Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Golden-tailed WoodpeckerGolden-tailed WoodpeckerGolden-tailed WoodpeckerGolden-tailed Woodpecker

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Silhouette: Pepe Reigada · PhyloPic

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Etosha National Park
143 Verified sightings at Etosha National Park From 2019 to 2026
3,064 Verified sightings across all 34 parks From 2019 to 2026
November Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

About the Golden-tailed Woodpecker

The golden-tailed woodpecker (Campethera abingoni) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. Its specific name commemorates the 5th Earl of Abingdon. It belongs to a species complex that includes the Knysna woodpecker to the south of its range, and the mostly allopatric Mombasa woodpecker to the northeast, with which it perhaps hybridizes.

The combination of barred, greenish upper part plumage, and streaked underparts is distinctive. Their golden-olive tails do not differ markedly from those of several related or sympatric woodpecker species, but their single, strident call-note is characteristic.

It measures 20 to 21 cm from bill tip to tail tip. The southern races weigh about 70 g, but the northern race C. a. chrysura, only about 55 g. Males are on average larger and heavier than females. The sexes are best distinguished by their head markings, as the red and brown fore-crowns of males differ unmistakably from those of females that are black and spotted white. The malar stripes of males are red and that of females mottled black and white. The iris is usually dark red but variable, the mandibles slate grey, and the legs and feet greenish-olive. Juveniles are heavily... Wikipedia →

Closest Relatives at Etosha National Park

Bennett's Woodpecker
LC

Bennett's Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Campethera bennettii

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Cardinal Woodpecker
LC

Cardinal Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Dendropicos fuscescens

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Bearded Woodpecker

Bearded Woodpecker

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Chloropicus namaquus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Acacia Pied Barbet
LC

Acacia Pied Barbet

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tricholaema leucomelas

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Lesser Honeyguide
LC

Lesser Honeyguide

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Indicator minor

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird
LC

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Daily sighting probability Insufficient data

Global Distribution

Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
2 Waterberg Plateau Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~20%
3 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
4 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
5 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~20%
6 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
7 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~10%
8 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
9 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
10 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
11 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
~10%
12 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
13 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
14 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
15 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
16 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~10%
17 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
18 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
19 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
20 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
21 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
22 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
23 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
24 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
25 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
26 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
27 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
28 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
29 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
Insufficient data
30 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
31 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
Insufficient data
32 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
Insufficient data
33 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
Insufficient data
34 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Golden-tailed Woodpecker in Etosha National Park?

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-tailed Woodpecker sighting in Etosha National Park, based on 143 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Golden-tailed Woodpecker in Etosha National Park?

November has the highest sighting rate for Golden-tailed Woodpecker in Etosha National Park in our monthly data.

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