Photo: J G Keulemans / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
Gabon Woodpecker
Dendropicos gabonensis
Gabon Woodpecker (Dendropicos gabonensis) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Africa.
The Gabon Woodpecker (Dendropicos gabonensis) is a member of the Picidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 25.9 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 gabonensis
Quick facts
- Weight
- 25.9 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Gabon Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Gabon Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Gabon Woodpecker (Dendropicos gabonensis) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF s Nigeria, to DR Congo, n Angola and w Uganda.
It is a small bird. Adults weighs around 25.9 g, with a wing length of about 7.9 cm and a tail of around 3.7 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
Its mapped global range covers an estimated 1.7 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Gabon Woodpecker?
The Gabon Woodpecker is a small bird that weighs around 25.9 g.
Where does the Gabon Woodpecker live?
The Gabon Woodpecker is found across Africa with a range covering AF s Nigeria, to DR Congo, n Angola and w Uganda, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Gabon Woodpecker belong to?
The Gabon Woodpecker (Dendropicos gabonensis) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Gabon Woodpecker eat?
The Gabon Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Gabon Woodpecker migrate?
The Gabon Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Gabon 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.
What sound does the Gabon Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Gabon Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Gabon Woodpecker's range?
The Gabon Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 1.7 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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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.