Cardinal Woodpecker

Afrikaans name: Kardinaalspeg

Male Cardinal Woodpecker

Photo © Steven Herbert

Dendropicos fuscescens

The Cardinal Woodpecker is a common bird in South Africa. It is widely distributed and can be found in suitable habitat over most of the country but it does not occur in arid areas.á

It can be found in woodlands, savanna, parks and gardens.

Cardinal Woodpeckers predominantly feed on beetles and their larvae which they find by digging into the bark of trees with their bills. They also feed on other larvae, spiders and ants. Occasionally they will eat some fruit or seeds.

Males are easily identified from females as they have some red on their crowns. The female lacks any red colouration on her head.

The favourite nesting spot for Cardinal Woodpeckers is a hole underneath the branch of a tree. Here they lay up to 3 eggs and they are cared for by both parents.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	450	Dendropicos fuscescens fuscescens
2nd	450	Dendropicos fuscescens
3rd	450	Dendropicos fuscescens
4th	450	Dendropicos fuscescens
5th	486	Dendropicos fuscescens
6th	486	Dendropicos fuscescens
7th	57	Dendropicos fuscescens

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	450	Cardinal Woodpecker
2nd	450	Cardinal Woodpecker
3rd	450	Cardinal Woodpecker
4th	450	Cardinal Woodpecker
5th	486	Cardinal Woodpecker
6th	486	Cardinal Woodpecker
7th	57	Cardinal Woodpecker

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	450	Kardinaal-spegt
2nd	450	Kardinaal-spegt
3rd	450	Kardinaal-spegt
4th	450	Kardinaal-spegt
5th	486	Kardinaalspeg
6th	486	Kardinaalspeg
7th	57	Kardinaalspeg

References and further reading

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 48

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 134

The Birds of South Africa - Author: Hazel Stokes - Published: 1979 - Page: 30

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 185

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 53

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 177

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 280

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 48

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 268

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 418

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 421

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 324

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 241

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 309

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 36

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 268

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 268

Questions and Answers - Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Deirdre Richards - Published: 1990 - Page: 13

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 75

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 196

Garden Birds in South Africa - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2017 - Page: 78

Geoff Lockwoods Garden Birds of Southern Africa - Author: Geoff Lockwood - Published: 0 - Page: 61

Field Guide to Fynbos Fauna - Author: Cliff & Suretha Dorse - Published: 2023 - Page: 162

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 136

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 49

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 160

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 81

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 143

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 62

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 144

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 178

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 90

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 90

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 191

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds