Stierling's Woodpecker Dendropicos stierlingi

A medium-sized woodpecker with pale underparts that are covered with dark arrow-shaped markings. Has a bold facial pattern: crown is dark in the female and dark (forecrown) and red (hindcrown) in the male. Scarce and poorly known species that is found locally in lush patches of Miombo broadleaf woodland. Tends to feed on medium-sized and large tree branches. The calls include a weak rattling call, and a typical woodpecker “pik”. The drum is fast and repeated several times. Similar overall coloration to Bearded Woodpecker, but much smaller, without pale barring on the brown back, and with paler, arrow-marked underparts. Distinguished from other woodpeckers in its range by the unmarked brownish back.