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Bearded Woodpecker
Showing stays that recordBearded Woodpecker20+ stays list it on site or nearby
Species insights

Parks where hosts record the Bearded Woodpecker

Stays that give back

Across South Africa

Reliably seen · Birder friendly

Tandweni Villa

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Mdluli Safari Lodge

Reliably seen · Birder friendly

Kosi Forest Lodge

Reliably seen · Birder friendly

Wilge River Bush Camp

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Bateleur Bushveld Camp

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Sirheni Bushveld Camp

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Shingwedzi Rest Camp

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Skukuza Rest Camp

Bearded Woodpecker recorded here

Ithala (Ntshondwe)
More stays nearby

Bushveld game country and the southern gates of the Kruger

See places that give back
Kruger Lowveld

Planning a trip

When and where to find the Bearded Woodpecker

Hosts have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park and iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

How and when to see the Bearded Woodpecker

Best hours of the day

  • The first hours after sunrise, and late afternoon. Birds call and feed most in the cool.
  • Midday. Quieter, especially in summer heat.

Where to base yourself

  • Self-drive
    Stays in Limpopo
    Limpopo
  • Stays in KwaZulu-Natal
    KwaZulu-Natal

Ways to look

Drive yourself

Your own vehicle and pace, on the park's roads.

Where hosts record it

Species

Chloropicus namaquus

Records

463

iNaturalist observations

Every booking on Spekboom supports conservation.

Questions travellers ask

A record means a host has seen the Bearded Woodpecker on the property or nearby. It is never a guarantee of a sighting.

Which parks and reserves are best for the Bearded Woodpecker in South Africa?

Hosts on Spekboom have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker at stays in or beside Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, iSimangaliso Wetland Park and Ithala Game Reserve. A record means a host has seen it on the property or nearby, which makes these the places to base yourself; it is never a guarantee of a sighting on any given day.

Where can you see the Bearded Woodpecker in South Africa?

The Bearded Woodpecker is most recorded in Mpumalanga (45% of records), Limpopo (33% of records), KwaZulu-Natal (10% of records), based on 463 iNaturalist observations. 21 places to stay on Spekboom in South Africa have recorded the Bearded Woodpecker on site or nearby.

When is the best time to see the Bearded Woodpecker?

The Bearded Woodpecker is recorded throughout the year, so no month is the wrong month to look for it. For the parks where hosts record it most, these are the best seasons they give. Kruger National Park: Apr-Sep; Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; iSimangaliso Wetland Park: year-round, dry season May-Sep; Ithala Game Reserve: year-round, dry season May-Sep. In the dry months animals concentrate at water and the grass is short.

What is the Bearded Woodpecker?

The bearded woodpecker (Chloropicus namaquus) is a species of bird in the family Picidae. It has a distinctive black and white head and brownish barred body. It is native to tropical central Africa. It has an extremely wide range and is a fairly common species, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being of "least concern".