Identification
A very large, mostly black woodpecker with red on the head. Its size, pale bill and powerful flight make it distinctive.
When to look
Mainly resident. Local occurrence can extend from lowland woodland to mountain forests where habitat is suitable.
Where to look
Mature forests of several types are used, provided they contain suitable large nesting trees and feeding wood.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
Ants and their brood are especially important. Wood-boring beetles and other invertebrates are also taken.
Breeding and life cycle
A nest hole is excavated in a tall tree. Suitable trees may stand in living forest rather than only in dead timber.
A closer look
Its calls can carry much farther than the bird is visible. A loud voice from a mature stand is often the first clue to its presence.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Listen and wait on a woodland path. Avoid surrounding a nest tree or encouraging repeat visits with playback.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.