Arabian Woodpecker Dendrocoptes dorae Scientific name definitions

18 cm; one male 41·5 g. Male has crimson-red hindcrown and nape  , olive-grey to brown hindneck; rest of head variably brownish to light grey-brown or dark brown, paler streaks on ear-coverts and sometimes above eye, often paler in malar region and sometimes behind ear-coverts; whitish to pale brownish chin and throat; upperparts  brown to olive-brown or grey-brown, often tinged golden, rump and uppertail-coverts darker; wings blackish, coverts (except lessers) tipped white, flight-feathers barred white; uppertail blackish, outer rectrices barred white, second-outer with few white bars; pale olive-brown to greyish-brown below, red or orange-red patch on central belly, flanks  and lower belly faintly barred brown and white, browner undertail-coverts spotted or barred white; fairly long bill almost straight, chisel-tipped, broad across nostrils, slate-grey to horn, usually paler base of lower mandible; iris whitish or grey-brown; legs grey. Female lacks red on head , tends to be somewhat duller, with less prominent red on belly. Juvenile much as adult, but greyer with some streaking below, belly more pink than red, male with orange-red patch on crown.

SW Arabian Peninsula in narrow band from just N of Mecca S to W South Yemen.

Inhabits riparian woodland dominated by Cordia abyssinica, well-mixed and dense stands of predominantly Juniperus, Olea and Nuxia on mountain slopes; also uses pure stands of Acacia origena, and scattered acacias (predominantly A. iraquensis) in flat desert areas; also palm and fig groves with adjacent acacias at base of escarpments. Breeds mainly in valleys, on slopes and in highlands at altitudes of 1200–2400 m; occurs from sea-level up to 3000 m outside breeding season.

Some seasonal altitudinal movements apparent; found down to lowlands in winter, and in summer at least part of population moves c. 350 m farther upslope.

Larvae of wood-boring insects, fig wasps, and aphids and other winged insects recorded as adult and nestling food. Ants living in base of acacias possibly important. Tree sap important in winter; may take fruits as well. Usually singly or in pairs. Forages commonly in crown of trees, mostly Acacia, on medium to thin branches and twigs, frequently along underside; also descends to ground. Hammers, probes, and occasionally flakes off bark; gleaning is predominant foraging technique in nesting season.

Common vocalization “pweek pit-pit-pit-pit-pit-pit-pit-ptptpt”. Occasionally drums, feebly.

Mar–May, occasionally from Feb; possibly in Nov in Yemen. Nest excavated mostly at 0·5–6 m up tree trunk or limb in live or dead wood, or at up to 9 m and rarely even 25 m in stump of palm tree. Clutch 3 eggs; incubation by both parents, for period of 11 days; both adults also feed chicks, fledging period c. 22 days; young birds remain in nesting area for at least two months after fledging.

Not globally threatened. Currently considered Near Threatened. Generally rather uncommon, locally rare. Population small, estimated at c. 7500 pairs, which equates to 15,000 mature individuals and probably stable since the 1930s (2 Jennings, M. C. (2010). Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Arabia. Fauna of Arabia 25. King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Saudi Wildlife Commission and Senckenberg Forschungsinstitut und Naturmuseum, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and Frankfurt, Germany. Close ). Densities vary from 0·1 to 1·0 adults/km². Following centuries of human colonization and associated activities, this species’ woodland habitat has become highly fragmented. Continuing clearance for agriculture and building, and for firewood, oftens result in removal of large trees required by this woodpecker for its nest-sites; heavy grazing can prevent the regeneration of trees. There are also concerns about the impact of conflict in Yemen on its habitat (through cutting of Acacia trees for fuel) and even on the killing of birds for food#R. Although many wooded areas in W Arabia have long been protected from overexploitation, to ensure a source of fodder during drought, traditional management was largely abandoned in latter part of 20th century as it became easier to obtain alternative supplies of feed. Occurs in Asir National Park and Rayah Reserve (Saudi Arabia). Effective conservation measures proposed include designation of additional protected areas, the encouragement of non-intensive, traditional methods of woodland management, and the raising of the profile of this species in its Arabian homeland.