Listeners:
Top listeners:
00:00
00:00
volume_up
chevron_left
-
play_arrow
Radio Today Radio Today
-
play_arrow
Rocking Today Rocking Down the Highway
-
play_arrow
Radio Today News Mike Stroud
-
play_arrow
Radio Today News Mike Stroud
music_note
Ground Woodpecker
 Ground Woodpecker .Â
A Near Threatened Species found in Western Cape Fynbos , Karoo , Drakensberg and grasslands not associated with trees . They are usually in small family parties of up to 6 birds and have become scarce in many areas .
Â
They perch on rocks where they are well camouflaged, often sidling over to one side and peering over the top at intruders . Their flight is undulating but they forage mainly on the ground by pecking , digging and flicking with their bills . They probe with their long sticky tongue into cracks between stones or into dead wood .  Ninety five percent of their food is ants including the larvae , pupae and eggs .
Their voice is a far carrying ” dwerr or tik – werr ” and a ringing “ree – chick “. They also have an alarm call ” pee- aargh “
Breeding takes place from August to November . The nest is a burrow in the vertical wall of a donga , river bank or cutting . The tunnel entry can be 50 – 100 cm long . Usually 3 glossy white eggs are laid . Incubation and nestling periods are unrecorded .
The isiZulu name is umNqangqandolo and in Afrikaans die Grondspeg.
