This woodpecker grows to a length of 24 to 27 cm (9.4 to 10.6 in).
The mantle, back, wings and tail of the adult are black, the flight feathers being brownish-black above and the underside of the wings being greyish-black.
The crown, face, rump and underparts are white, sometimes with some buff shading.
The male has some yellowing of the breast and nape which the female lacks, and both sexes have a certain amount of yellow on the belly.
A narrow black stripe runs from behind the eye to the nape.
There is a bare ring of yellow skin around the eye which has a yellowish iris.
The beak is long and grey, paler near the base, and the legs are grey.
Juveniles are browner and less glossy than the adults, with the pale areas being buff rather than white.
The orbital ring on juveniles is grey rather than yellow, and both sexes may have some yellow on the nape.
This woodpecker grows to a length of 24 to 27 cm (9.4 to 10.6 in). The mantle, back, wings and tail of the adult are black, the flight feathers being brownish-black above and the underside of the wings being greyish-black. The crown, face, rump and underparts are white, sometimes with some buff shading. The male has some yellowing of the breast and nape which the female lacks, and both sexes have a certain amount of yellow on the belly. A narrow black stripe runs from behind the eye to the nape. There is a bare ring of yellow skin around the eye which has a yellowish iris. The beak is long and grey, paler near the base, and the legs are grey. Juveniles are browner and less glossy than the adults, with the pale areas being buff rather than white. The orbital ring on juveniles is grey rather than yellow, and both sexes may have some yellow on the nape.
White woodpecker