Dendropicos fuscescens

The dark red woodpecker is 14 ~ 15cm long. The back is dark olive with white spots. The abdomen is white with black stripes. The buttocks are tawny. The throat and face are white with black stripes separating the two. Males have a red crown extending to the nape of the neck, while females have a dark crown and black nape. The mouth is as stiff as a chisel, the tongue is long and telescopic, and the tip has a short hook. The tail stem is hard and flexible, supporting the body when pecking.

The dark red woodpecker is found in central and southern Africa, including the southern Arabian Peninsula and the entire African continent south of the Sahara Desert (Tropic of Cancer).