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Caught this Cardinan WP(D.f.loandae) getting his just reward and thought i'd share it,if my ID is wrong please correct.

Kardinaalspeg
Dendropicos fuscescens

Habits: Usually in pairs but sometimes solitary. Forages on trunks, branches of trees, bushes, euphorbias, reeds and maize stalks. Usually lands low in tree and works up towards top, sometimes spiralling around the branch. Moves to off-side of trunk or branch when disturbed. Flight fast, direct and undulating. May join other bird parties.
Food: Insects especially beetle larvae.



I heard this guy 'hammering' the wood while I was bird watching about 50m away. I followed the sound and eventually found him. He had gotten used to me and I had speant about 15min with him. I had to leave as the owners, of the caravan I had been taken pix next to, had arrived and were looking at me strangely . Later on they saw me looking up another tree, pointed at me and then waved...

Beautiful pics, both Nannie and Candys' style.

There is little so pleasant on a lazy summer day as listening to the tapping of woodpeckers. This habit alerts the birder to their presence and careful approach often rewards the birder with lasting views. The Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens is a small woodpecker (14 to 16 cm), found in Africa south of the Sahara and throughout southern Africa. It is the commonest woodpecker in South Africa and inhabits any woodland or forest. It is usually found in pairs and lives off insects. All woodpeckers have evolved to specifically deal with chiseling wood, including "shock-absorber" head musculature, a straight pointed bill, extremely long tongues to root out hiding insects, feet with two toes pointing forward and two backward and stiff tail feathers to help them perch upright on trees.


Large view

That is a fantastic shot Johan!

This Woodpecker made a nest in a Candelabra at our Marloth house. Unfortunately the tree feel over the next week…seems like it was eaten rotten by termites.

Larger view

Can anyone help me with this woodpecker, seen 40 km northwest of Bela-Bela (Warmbaths) last week. Sorry for the poor quality, but the skies were leaden.

Hey BB.

The first bird looks like Cardinal Woodpecker to me. The barred back, red hind crown and mottled/streaked cheeks seperate it from Bennet's (which is also much bigger but that's dangerous to judge from this pic).

Thanks guys, sorry about the quality of the pics. I thought the 'pecker might be golden tailed.

I think we can rule that out, 'cause Golden-tailed has a spotted back.

The barred back excludes quite a few species of Woodpeckers and the red crown points to a few options:

1. Cardinal (male)
2. Golden-Tailed
3. Bennett's
4. Bearded (male)

The lack of brown cheek rules out the female Bennett's.

The angle of the bird hides a lot of good qualities to id the rest of the woodpecker on, but I am going to try and make an id on some "signs" I assume I can see.

The back of the neck does not seem to be black, therefore ruling out Both sexes of Golden-Tailed and the male Bearded woodpeckers. The red seems to extend all the way down the back of the head and neck.

Now we are sitting with two possibilities: Male Cardinal and Male Bennett's.

The moustachial area is definitely not red-streaked (typical of male Bennett's) and seems to be more like a blackish patch.

I would say that it is a Male Cardinal Woodpecker based on the above criteria.

Is the cardinal woodpecker bigger than Bennets' or smaller?

Mel123,The Cardinal is much smaller than Bennett,s. The Cardinal is 14-16cm and Bennett's 22-24cm