Great Spotted Woodpecker

Voice

A sharp, explosive kik, run into a rattling series when agitated. From January to April the male drums a short, fast, rapidly fading roll of about half a second on a dead branch: far shorter than Black Woodpecker and drier and faster than Middle Spotted. Young beg loudly from the nest hole in June.

Identification

Black and white with two large white shoulder patches, barred wings, unstreaked white underparts and vivid red vent. The male has a red nape patch, the female none; juveniles have a wholly red crown and duller red vent. The black moustache runs back and joins the black rear crown, closing the loop. Flight deeply undulating.

Confusion species

Middle Spotted Woodpecker is smaller, with a red crown in both sexes, pink lower belly, streaked flanks and a moustache that does not reach the nape, and gives a nasal whining call. Syrian Woodpecker lacks the black join between moustache and nape and has pink, not red, undertail. Lesser Spotted is sparrow-sized with a barred back.

Habitat

Woodland of every kind, from old broadleaf and conifer plantation to shelterbelts, estates, cemeteries and gardens with mature trees. Above all it needs dead and dying timber to excavate and nest in; in winter it visits garden feeders freely.

Range and movements

Almost all of Europe except Iceland and the far north. In the Netherlands the commonest woodpecker and still increasing, right into urban greenery. In Spain widespread in mountain pine forest and the oak and beech woods of the north and the sierras. Resident, though northern populations move irruptively when the conifer crop fails.

• Resident
• Breeding (summer)
• Winter
• Passage
• dark = core range, pale = thinly spread

Where and when to look

In February and March walk open broadleaved woodland between sunrise and mid-morning and listen for drumming; each territory has a favourite resonant dead limb. In winter a garden feeder is the easiest place to check nape, crown and undertail at leisure.

Conservation status

Increasing across Europe, helped by more standing deadwood in woodland, maturing plantations and garden feeding. There are few real threats; only tidying away deadwood and felling veteran park trees have local negative effects. It benefits from tree deaths after drought and storms.