Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos spodocephalus) [XC609469]
by Lars Lachmann from Oldonyosambu, Arusha, Tanzania (call)
Eastern Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos) [XC430161]
by Oliver Fowler from PDs Patch, W of Arusha, Arusha Region, Tanzania (call, song)
Subspecies
Dendropicos goertae and Dendropicos spodocephalus (Sibley and Monroe 1990, 1993) have been lumped and transferred to the genus Mesopicos following Dowsett and Forbes-Watson (1993).
Forms a superspecies with Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae) and Olive Woodpecker (Dendropicos griseocephalus), hybridizing with them where ranges meet. Often treated as conspecific with Grey Woodpecker (Dendropicos goertae).
The following 2 subspecies are recognised:
spodocephalus (Bonaparte, 1850) - Eastern Sudan and western and central Ethiopian Highlands.
rhodeogaster (Fischer, GA & Reichenow, 1884) - Highlands of central and south-western Kenya and north-central Tanzania.