Picid in Focus: Bearded Woodpecker

Male Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus. This is the largest woodland-dwelling woodpecker in Africa. Rather shy, when disturbed or directly approached, invariably flying some distance before alighting again. Often first located by virtue of its rather distinctive contact tapping and drumming. Outside the breeding season usually seen foraging alone. Sometimes placed in a a separate genus Thripias. Photo taken in South Africa by Warwick Tarboton.