NT
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus



Taxonomy

Taxonomic source(s)
del Hoyo, J., Collar, N.J., Christie, D.A., Elliott, A. and Fishpool, L.D.C. 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions BirdLife International, Barcelona, Spain and Cambridge, UK.

IUCN Red List criteria met and history
Red List criteria met
Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable
- - -

Red List history
Year Category Criteria
2017 Near Threatened A2bc+3bc+4bc
2016 Least Concern
2012 Least Concern
2009 Least Concern
2008 Least Concern
2004 Least Concern
2000 Lower Risk/Least Concern
1994 Lower Risk/Near Threatened
1988 Lower Risk/Least Concern
Species attributes

Migratory status not a migrant Forest dependency does not normally occur in forest
Land-mass type Average mass -
Range

Estimate Data quality
Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) 1,210,000 km2 medium
Severely fragmented? no -
Population
Estimate Data quality Derivation Year of estimate
Population size unknown - - -
Population trend decreasing - suspected 2009-2024
Rate of change over the past 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Rate of change over the past & future 10 years/3 generations (longer of the two periods) 20-29% - - -
Generation length 5 years - - -

Population justification: The global population size has not been quantified, but the species is reported to be common in most of its range (del Hoyo et al. 2002).

Trend justification: Lee et al. (2017) analysed Southern African Bird Atlas Project (SABAP) data (SABAP1 1987-1992; SABAP2 2007-2014. Note SABAP2 is ongoing but data taken from 2014) and suggested that this species is experiencing a decline in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. Lee et al. (2017) suggest that reporting rate has declined 51.7%, range has declined 43.3% and core range has declined 39.5% between SABAPs (although the corrected population change metric suggests population declines may be lower than this). Declines may in part be due to incomplete sampling during SABAP2, but it is precautionarily assessed that the species may be at least declining moderately rapidly over 3 generations (15 years).


Country/territory distribution
Country/Territory Presence Origin Resident Breeding visitor Non-breeding visitor Passage migrant
Eswatini extant native yes
Lesotho extant native yes
South Africa extant native yes

Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas (IBA)
Country/Territory IBA Name
Lesotho Liqobong
Lesotho Upper Senqu River
Lesotho Mafika - Lisiu
Lesotho Sehonghong and Matebeng
Lesotho Sehlabathebe National Park
Lesotho Upper Quthing Valley
Eswatini Malolotja Nature Reserve
Eswatini Mahamba Mountain
South Africa Steenkampsberg
South Africa Grasslands
South Africa Mattheus-Gat Conservation Area
South Africa Haramoep and Black Mountain Mine
South Africa Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve
South Africa Golden Gate Highlands National Park
South Africa Maloti Drakensberg Park
South Africa Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve
South Africa Camdeboo National Park
South Africa Kouga - Baviaanskloof Complex
South Africa Karoo National Park
South Africa Swartberg mountains
South Africa Boland Mountains
South Africa Anysberg Nature Reserve
South Africa Outeniqua mountains
South Africa Langeberg Mountains
South Africa Amatola - Katberg Mountain

Habitats & altitude
Habitat (level 1) Habitat (level 2) Importance Occurrence
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical Dry suitable resident
Grassland Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude suitable resident
Rocky areas (eg. inland cliffs, mountain peaks) major resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical High Altitude suitable resident
Shrubland Subtropical/Tropical Moist suitable resident
Wetlands (inland) Bogs, Marshes, Swamps, Fens, Peatlands suitable resident
Altitude 0 - 2100 m Occasional altitudinal limits  

Threats & impact
Threat (level 1) Threat (level 2) Impact and Stresses
Agriculture & aquaculture Wood & pulp plantations - Small-holder plantations Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Minority (<50%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Ecosystem degradation, Ecosystem conversion
Climate change & severe weather Habitat shifting & alteration Timing Scope Severity Impact
Ongoing Whole (>90%) Unknown Unknown
Stresses
Indirect ecosystem effects, Ecosystem degradation

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Geocolaptes olivaceus. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ground-woodpecker-geocolaptes-olivaceus on 19/03/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org on 19/03/2024.