Data Zone
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.
| Critically Endangered | Endangered | Vulnerable |
|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
| 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 |
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | does not normally occur in forest |
| Land-mass type | Average mass | - |
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence (breeding/resident) | 1,210,000 km2 | medium |
| Severely fragmented? | no | - |
| 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 | Presence | Origin | Resident | Breeding visitor | Non-breeding visitor | Passage migrant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eswatini | extant | native | yes | |||
| Lesotho | extant | native | yes | |||
| South Africa | extant | native | yes |
| Country/Territory | IBA Name |
|---|---|
| Eswatini | Mahamba Mountain |
| Eswatini | Malolotja Nature Reserve |
| Lesotho | Liqobong |
| Lesotho | Mafika - Lisiu |
| Lesotho | Sehlabathebe National Park |
| Lesotho | Sehonghong and Matebeng |
| Lesotho | Upper Quthing Valley |
| Lesotho | Upper Senqu River |
| South Africa | Amatola - Katberg Mountain |
| South Africa | Anysberg Nature Reserve |
| South Africa | Boland Mountains |
| South Africa | Camdeboo National Park |
| South Africa | Golden Gate Highlands National Park |
| South Africa | Grasslands |
| South Africa | Haramoep and Black Mountain Mine |
| South Africa | Karoo National Park |
| South Africa | Kouga - Baviaanskloof Complex |
| South Africa | Langeberg Mountains |
| South Africa | Maloti Drakensberg Park |
| South Africa | Mattheus-Gat Conservation Area |
| South Africa | Outeniqua mountains |
| South Africa | Steenkampsberg |
| South Africa | Sterkfontein Dam Nature Reserve |
| South Africa | Swartberg mountains |
| South Africa | Umgeni Vlei Nature Reserve |
| 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 |
| 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 | ||||||
|
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| Climate change & severe weather | Habitat shifting & alteration | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Whole (>90%) | Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
|
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Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/ground-woodpecker-geocolaptes-olivaceus on 22/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 22/11/2024.