The crown is brownish but the males have a red hindcrown and nape, as well as an indistinct, narrow moustachial.

reichenowihas a more distinct moustachial stripe, broader underpart streaking and a lesser extent of red on the adult male's head than the nominate subspecies.

[3] They are 16–17 cm in length and weigh 24–30 g.[4] There are two currently recognised subspecies, they and their distribution are:[4] The melancholy woodpecker Dendropicos lugubris which breeds from Sierra Leone east to Nigeria, is sometimes considered a subspecies of Gabon woodpecker and D.g.

[3] The Gabon woodpecker occurs in forest edge, tall secondary growth and the wooded edges of farmland, normally lower than 1400m above sea level.

[3] The Gabon woodpecker breeds in September and October in the west and June in Uganda.