Dendropicos fuscescens
The Cardinal Woodpecker is the smallest of its kind occurring in South Africa, with adults measuring around 15cm long and weighing in at about 30g. They inhabit a wide range of woody habitats, ranging from forest edges to arid savanna, where they feed mainly on insects and their larvae extracted from inside rotting wood or under bark.
Cardinal Woodpeckers are usually seen singly or in pairs or family groups, and often associate with other bird species while foraging. The breeding season stretches through spring and summer, but the monogamous pairs stay together throughout the year. They nest in holes hammered into dead trees or branches and sometimes fence posts. Both sexes incubate the clutch of 1-3 eggs for a period of 2 weeks. The chicks fledge at around a month old and become independent about two months later.
The Cardinal Woodpecker is widely distributed over sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of some parts of the equatorial forests. In South Africa they can be found in all provinces, though they are abscent from large parts of the open and arid Northern Cape. The IUCN lists it as being of least concern.
DeWetsWild 
The colourful cap looks so sweet 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A very noticeable feature, isn’t it!?
LikeLike
Given his colourful red cap, I can guess why he’s called Cardinal 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Apt name, isn’t it!? 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi guys. More fantastic photos. I occasionally get these woodpecker in the trees of my garden, eating the worms and ants on the bark, but unfortunately they do not nest in my trees. The cardinal woodpecker is a very attractive bird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That just means your trees are as healthy as the terrific assortment of fauna that thrive in your garden, Kim!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, I’m pleased to hear that.
LikeLike
Bravo! The little ones can disappear when threatened perhaps and the adults may be innocuous enough to not be a target. I like them already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
They are so well adapted to their niche in life!
LikeLike
Handsome woodpecker, although it looks underfed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think our warmer weather means that many birds here carry a less thick plumage than their cousins in cooler climes might, Hien.
LikeLike
Een het laasjaar ‘n nes begin maak in ‘n ou wilgeboom hier by my. Ek was verstom dat so klein dingetjie so hard kon werk. Ons het die boom laat bly staan sodat die houtkappertjie sy huis kon hou. Ek sien hom/haar nie meer nie. Die droogte van 2015/16 het die boom se einde beteken maar dit huisves nog lewe.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hulle sal tien-teen-een weer die ou boom se geraamte kom opsoek, en jou baie dankbaar wees!
LikeLike
It really looks like the cartoon Woody Woodpecker. What a sweetie.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes they are!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very beautiful woodpecker.😊We have 7 different woodpeckers here in Sweden, but I have only seen one of them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a very rich diversity of woodpeckers, John! The natural forests in Scandinavia must be well looked after!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love woodies, and that is a gorgeous one!
LikeLike
They’re absolutely fascinating in so many ways!
LikeLike
How beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pretty little birds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love woodpeckers and that’s a pretty one, although I wonder that they don’t have headaches all the time. 🙂
janet
LikeLiked by 2 people
Their heads and brains must have some amazing physiological adaptations to make the hammering bearable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe a wizard could give him a headache if he bothers you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh no, Beth! I could never be bothered by something as beautiful and interesting!
LikeLiked by 1 person