European Green Woodpecker

The European green woodpecker, Picus viridis, is a bird of considerable charm, with its vibrant green plumage and a striking red crown. The male is distinguished by a red center in its black moustache stripe, a feature absent in the female counterpart. This species is a resident bird found across much of Europe and parts of the western Palearctic.

Identification Tips

To identify the European green woodpecker, look for its large size, green upperparts, and pale yellowish-green underparts. The red crown and nape are distinctive, as is the yellow rump. Males have a red center in their moustache stripe, while females have a solid black moustache. Juveniles display a spotty and streaked appearance.

Habitat

The European green woodpecker favors semi-open landscapes that provide a mix of old deciduous trees for nesting and open feeding grounds rich in ant populations. Habitats such as small woodlands, hedges, and forest edges are ideal, as are grasslands, heaths, and lawns for foraging.

Distribution

This species is widely distributed across Europe, with a significant presence in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Russia, Croatia, Romania, and Bulgaria. It is also found in western Asia, with its range extending to parts of Iran and Turkmenistan.

Behaviour

The European green woodpecker is a shy and sedentary bird, often heard before it is seen. It is known for its loud calls, or 'yaffling,' and has an undulating flight pattern. Unlike other woodpeckers, it rarely drums on trees but spends much time foraging for ants on the ground.

Song & Calls

The song of the European green woodpecker is a series of loud 'klü' sounds, which accelerate and drop in pitch towards the end. The flight call is a distinctive kyü-kyü-kyück. Females produce a thinner pü-pü-pü-pü-pü-pü-pü call.

Breeding

Nesting occurs in tree holes, which may be used for over a decade, though not necessarily by the same pair. The European green woodpecker lays four to six white eggs, which are incubated by both parents. Chicks are altricial at hatching and fledge after 21–24 days.

Similar Species

The European green woodpecker can be confused with the smaller grey-headed woodpecker or the female golden oriole due to its green upperparts and yellow rump. However, the oriole is more slender with narrower wings and a longer tail.

Diet and Feeding

Ants are the primary diet of the European green woodpecker, particularly the genera Lasius and Formica. The bird uses its long, sticky tongue to extract ants and their larvae from nests. It prefers foraging in short grasslands where ant nests are abundant.

Conservation status

The European green woodpecker is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its population is stable, and it enjoys a large range with an estimated global extent of occurrence between 1 million to 10 million square kilometers.