5-6-2019 MOREMI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BENNETT'S WOODPECKER (Campethera bennettii)

The Bennett's woodpecker, a species of bird in the Picidae family, is a striking figure in the woodlands and bushes of Africa. This bird, approximately 24 cm in length and weighing between 61 to 84 grams, is adorned with a palette of colors that include brown, yellow, white, and pale yellow. The male is particularly distinctive with its red forehead, crown, and nape, while the female sports a black forehead with white spots and brown or blackish-brown ear coverts and throat.

To identify the Bennett's woodpecker, look for the male's vibrant red head and the female's spotted black forehead. Both sexes have red eyes, a grey beak, and legs that are either bluish-green or grey-green. The underparts are pale yellow with dark spots on the breast and flanks. Juveniles have a black forehead and crown with darker upperparts. The subspecies C. b. capricorni is slightly larger with deeper colored underparts and fewer spots.

Bennett's woodpecker favors woodlands and bushes, including miombo, Baikiaea, Acacia, and mopane woodlands, which provide ample foraging opportunities and nesting sites.

This woodpecker has a patchy distribution across Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Bennett's woodpecker can be observed singly, in pairs, or in family groups. It is known to forage primarily on the ground, in areas either bare or with short grass, and also within the branches of trees.

The vocal repertoire of this species includes "chuur" notes, a series of "wi-wi-wi-wi," "kee-kee-kee," or "ddrahh, ddrahh, ddray-ay, ddray-ay," and a chattering "wirrit-wirrit."

Breeding season for Bennett's woodpecker spans from August to February. They either excavate new holes or reuse old ones in trees for nesting. A clutch typically consists of three eggs, which are incubated for a period of 15 to 18 days.

The diet of Bennett's woodpecker is predominantly composed of ants and termites, including their eggs, which it skillfully extracts from the ground or tree bark.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed Bennett's woodpecker as a species of least concern, with a stable population and no significant threats identified.

5-6-2019 KHWAI CAMP, BOTSWANA - BENNETT'S WOODPECKER (Campethera bennettii)

Bennett's woodpecker (Campethera bennettii) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It is found in woodlands and bushes in Africa. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has assessed it as a least-concern species.

This species was described by Andrew Smith in 1836. Two subspecies are recognised: Campethera bennettii bennettii and C. b. capricorni. The common name and Latin binomial commemorate the British naturalist Edward Turner Bennett. Bennett's woodpecker, the fine-spotted woodpecker, the Nubian woodpecker and the speckle-throated woodpecker form a superspecies.

Bennett's woodpecker is about 24 cm (9.4 in) long and weighs 61–84 g (2.2–3.0 oz). The male's forehead, crown and nape are red. The chin and throat are white. The upperparts are brown, yellow and white. The underparts are pale yellow, and there are dark spots on the breast and flanks. The eyes are red, the beak is grey, and the legs are bluish-green or grey-green. The female has a black forehead with white spots, and its ear coverts and throat are brown or blackish-brown. The juvenile bird has a black forehead and crown and darker upperparts. The subspecies capricorni is slightly larger, and its underparts have a deeper colour and fewer spots.

This woodpecker is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, and it has a patchy distribution. Its habitat is woodlands and bushes, including miombo, Baikiaea, Acacia and mopane woodlands.

Bennett's woodpecker is found singly, in pairs or in family groups. It mostly forages on the ground, either bare or with short grass, and also feeds in trees. It mostly eats ants and termites, including their eggs. Its calls include chuur notes, a series of wi-wi-wi-wi, kee-kee-kee or ddrahh, ddrahh, ddray-ay, ddray-ay, and a chattering wirrit-wirrit. Breeding occurs from August to February. The woodpecker excavates or reuses holes in trees. Three eggs are laid and then incubated for 15 to 18 days.

The species has a stable population and there is no evidence of substantial threats, so the IUCN has assessed it as a least-concern species.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - BENNETT'S WOODPECKER (Campethera bennettii)

The Bennett's woodpecker, a species of bird in the Picidae family, is a striking figure in the woodlands and bushes of Africa. This bird, approximately 24 cm in length and weighing between 61 to 84 grams, is adorned with a palette of colors that include brown, yellow, white, and pale yellow. The male is particularly distinctive with its red forehead, crown, and nape, while the female sports a black forehead with white spots and brown or blackish-brown ear coverts and throat.

To identify the Bennett's woodpecker, look for the male's vibrant red head and the female's spotted black forehead. Both sexes have red eyes, a grey beak, and legs that are either bluish-green or grey-green. The underparts are pale yellow with dark spots on the breast and flanks. Juveniles have a black forehead and crown with darker upperparts. The subspecies C. b. capricorni is slightly larger with deeper colored underparts and fewer spots.

Bennett's woodpecker favors woodlands and bushes, including miombo, Baikiaea, Acacia, and mopane woodlands, which provide ample foraging opportunities and nesting sites.

20-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - BENNETT'S WOODPECKER (Campethera bennettii)

The Bennett's woodpecker, a species of bird in the Picidae family, is a striking figure in the woodlands and bushes of Africa. This bird, approximately 24 cm in length and weighing between 61 to 84 grams, is adorned with a palette of colors that include brown, yellow, white, and pale yellow. The male is particularly distinctive with its red forehead, crown, and nape, while the female sports a black forehead with white spots and brown or blackish-brown ear coverts and throat.

To identify the Bennett's woodpecker, look for the male's vibrant red head and the female's spotted black forehead. Both sexes have red eyes, a grey beak, and legs that are either bluish-green or grey-green. The underparts are pale yellow with dark spots on the breast and flanks. Juveniles have a black forehead and crown with darker upperparts. The subspecies C. b. capricorni is slightly larger with deeper colored underparts and fewer spots.

Bennett's woodpecker favors woodlands and bushes, including miombo, Baikiaea, Acacia, and mopane woodlands, which provide ample foraging opportunities and nesting sites.

This woodpecker has a patchy distribution across Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

Bennett's woodpecker can be observed singly, in pairs, or in family groups. It is known to forage primarily on the ground, in areas either bare or with short grass, and also within the branches of trees.

The vocal repertoire of this species includes "chuur" notes, a series of "wi-wi-wi-wi," "kee-kee-kee," or "ddrahh, ddrahh, ddray-ay, ddray-ay," and a chattering "wirrit-wirrit."

Breeding season for Bennett's woodpecker spans from August to February. They either excavate new holes or reuse old ones in trees for nesting. A clutch typically consists of three eggs, which are incubated for a period of 15 to 18 days.

The diet of Bennett's woodpecker is predominantly composed of ants and termites, including their eggs, which it skillfully extracts from the ground or tree bark.