Elliot’s Woodpecker
Dendropicos elliotii
Elliot's Woodpecker (Dendropicos elliotii) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
The Elliot’s Woodpecker (Dendropicos elliotii) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 37.2 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Dendropicos
- Species elliotii
Quick facts
- Weight
- 37.2 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Elliot’s Woodpecker (Dendropicos elliotii) belongs to the Picidae family of the order Piciformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF c, wc.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 37.2 g, with a wing length of about 9.2 cm and a tail of around 6.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 755,000 km².
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Elliot’s Woodpecker?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 37.2 g.
Where does the Elliot’s Woodpecker live?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF c, wc, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Elliot’s Woodpecker belong to?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker (Dendropicos elliotii) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Elliot’s Woodpecker eat?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Elliot’s Woodpecker migrate?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Elliot’s Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
How large is the Elliot’s Woodpecker's range?
The Elliot’s Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 755,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
Explore more birds
More in Picidae
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Near Threatened
Least Concern
Least Concern
More in Woodpeckers & Toucans
Not Evaluated
Endangered
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.