- Campethera mombassica
Identification
22cm. A golden-green woodpecker.
- Fine yellowish white dorsal spotting
- Streaked breast
- Yellowish white underparts heavily streaked with black
- Male with red-tipped forehead and crown feathers, red nape and red and black malar stripe
Similar species
The symaptric Bennett's Woodpecker, Nubian Woodpecker and Green-backed Woodpecker are all spotted, not streaked below.
Distribution
East Africa coastal endemic ranging from the Kenya-Somalia to northern Tanzania.
Locally fairly common in Kenya and Tanzania, uncommon (or possibly overlooked) in Somalia.
Taxonomy
This is a monotypic species.
It forms a superspecies with Knysna Woodpecker and Golden-tailed Woodpecker and is sometimes considered conspecific with the latter.
Habitat
Woodland and coastal forest.
Behaviour
Feeds mostly on ants and their larvae.
Forages in trees, often in cover of foliage. Usually seen singly but joins also mixed feeding parties.
Breeding season from December to February. Makes a nest-hole in a tree.
A resident species.
References
- Clements, JF. 2011. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to August 2011. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019. Spreadsheet available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/downloadable-clements-checklist
- Del Hoyo, J, A Elliot, and J Sargatal, eds. 2002. Handbook of the Birds of the World. Volume 7: Jacamars to Woodpeckers. Barcelona: Lynx Edicions. ISBN 978-8487334375
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2024) Mombasa Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 27 April 2024 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Mombasa_Woodpecker
