Just like the European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), this green-backed woodpecker is very interested in crawling creatures. Here it has pecked its way into a termite nest. Compared to the greenfinch (30–36 cm), this species is only half as large (16 cm). The male has a scarlet crown with black spots and a bright red neck with feathers forming a tuft. The female of this subspecies has a blackish crown. The birds are distinguished from other woodpeckers by their lack of distinct facial markings. The species is generally uncommon. The call is a striking 'ka-reek', sometimes repeated several times.