Elliot's woodpecker is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It has an extremely wide range and is described as an uncommon species. However, no particular threats to this species have been established, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".
Region
Central and East-Central Africa
Typical Environment
Primarily inhabits tropical moist forests, including primary and mature secondary woodland, forest edges, and gallery forests. It occurs from the lowland Congo Basin into the foothills and montane forests of the Albertine Rift. The species uses a range of vertical strata, from understory saplings to midstory and canopy branches. It tolerates some disturbance and will forage in secondary growth and along edges, but is most frequent in well-wooded habitats.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 2600 m
Climate Zone
Tropical
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
Elliot's woodpecker is an unobtrusive African forest woodpecker that forages quietly from trunks to fine branches. Males typically show a small red crown patch, which females lack. It has a very wide range across Central Africa and, despite being generally uncommon, faces no major identified threats and is assessed as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its drumming is relatively soft and brief compared to many temperate woodpeckers.
Temperament
shy and unobtrusive
Flight Pattern
undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Usually encountered singly or in pairs, sometimes joining mixed-species flocks in the midstory. Excavates a nest cavity in dead or decaying wood; both sexes are thought to share excavation and incubation duties. Territorial around nesting sites during the breeding season.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
Vocalizations include thin, high-pitched notes and soft, rapid rattles. Drumming is brief and subdued, often a short, dry roll rather than a long resonant drum.
Plumage
Olive-brown to bronzy upperparts finely barred or speckled pale; pale buff underparts densely streaked dark. Whitish to buff throat with dark streaking; dusky face with pale malar. Male shows a small red crown/nape patch; female lacks red.
Diet
Feeds mainly on ants, termites, beetle larvae, and other wood-boring or bark-dwelling insects. Probes crevices, scales bark, and taps lightly to extract prey rather than deep chiseling. Will also glean from lianas and small branches and occasionally takes other small arthropods. Plant material is minimal, though it may sample sap or fruit opportunistically.
Preferred Environment
Forages on trunks, lianas, and medium to fine branches in mature and secondary tropical forest. Often uses edges, clearings with scattered trees, and gallery forests along watercourses.
