Speckle-throated woodpecker facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Speckle-throated woodpecker |
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The speckle-throated woodpecker (Campethera scriptoricauda) is a cool bird found in East Africa. It's also called Reichenow's woodpecker. This name honors a German bird expert, Anton Reichenow. Some scientists think it might be a type of Bennett's woodpecker.
What Does It Look Like?
This woodpecker has a unique look!
- Its back is mostly green.
- It has yellow stripes, making it look a bit yellow overall.
- Its belly is light yellow.
- You'll see black speckles on its chest and throat. These speckles are a key way to tell it apart from other woodpeckers like the Nubian woodpecker or Bennett's woodpecker.
- Its beak is light-colored, often described as yellow or off-white.
Sounds and Calls
The speckle-throated woodpecker makes interesting sounds.
- In Tanzania, it might call out "wi-wi-wi-wi-wi".
- It also makes a short, rough "churr" sound.
- In Mozambique, its calls are very similar to those of Bennett's woodpecker. It can be hard to tell them apart just by sound!
Where Does It Live?
This woodpecker likes to live in open woodlands.
- You can find it in Mozambique, especially between the city of Beira and the lower Zambezi river.
- It also lives in central and southeastern Malawi.
- In Tanzania, it's found in the east and central parts, reaching north to Handeni.
- It also lives around the North Pare Mountains and near Mount Kilimanjaro.
- Long ago, it was also seen near Mombasa, Kenya.
- In Mozambique, it prefers woodlands with wide-leaved trees and tall grass underneath. It's quite common in these areas.
How Scientists Classify It
Scientists sometimes disagree on how to classify animals.
- Some experts used to think the speckle-throated woodpecker was a type of Nubian woodpecker.
- Others group it with Bennett's woodpecker. They believe these two types of woodpeckers mix freely in Malawi.
- However, many experts, including those who wrote the Handbook of the Birds of the World, consider it a separate species. This means they see it as its own unique kind of bird.
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Speckle-throated woodpecker Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.