Great Spotted Woodpecker

The great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major, is a medium-sized bird with a striking pied plumage. Its upperparts are glossy blue-black with white on the sides of the face and neck. A distinctive red patch adorns the lower belly, and males, as well as juveniles, boast additional red markings on the neck or head.

Identification Tips

Adults measure 20–24 cm in length with a wingspan of 34–39 cm. The underparts are predominantly white, contrasting with the scarlet lower belly and undertail. Males can be distinguished by a crimson patch on the nape, absent in females. Juveniles appear less glossy with a red crown, more pronounced in males.

Habitat

This woodpecker inhabits various woodland types, including broadleaf, coniferous, and mixed forests, as well as parks, gardens, and olive groves. It can be found from sea level up to the tree line, adapting well to both natural and modified habitats.

Distribution

The great spotted woodpecker is widespread across the Palearctic, from parts of North Africa to Japan. It is generally resident, but northern populations may migrate if food sources are scarce.

Behaviour

The species is known for its ability to chisel into trees in search of food and to excavate nest holes. It also drums on trees for communication and territorial advertisement. These birds possess anatomical adaptations to manage the physical stresses of hammering.

Song & Calls

Its call is a sharp "kik," which can turn into a rattling "krrarraarr" when disturbed. The woodpecker's drumming, used for contact and territorial advertisement, is rapid and can be heard from a considerable distance.

Breeding

Breeding involves excavation of holes in living or dead trees, with both parents sharing the duties of incubation, feeding the chicks, and nest sanitation. The typical clutch consists of four to six glossy white eggs, and fledglings are fed by the adults for about ten days post-fledging.

Similar Species

The great spotted woodpecker is similar to the Syrian woodpecker but can be differentiated by the absence of a black cheek bar and paler red underparts in the latter.

Diet and Feeding

An omnivorous feeder, this woodpecker's diet includes seeds, insect larvae, eggs, and chicks of other birds. It is adept at extracting seeds from pine cones and insect larvae from within trees.

Conservation Status

With a large population and extensive range, the great spotted woodpecker is classified as a species of least concern by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It faces no widespread threats and has a stable or slightly increasing population trend.