Great spotted woodpecker - Dendrocopos major
With its striking plumage the Great Spotted Woodpecker is easy to recognise with it’s black and white colouring, but most noticeable is the bright red patch under its tail which is in contrast to the pure white underparts. Early evening or morning is the best time to see the Great Spotted Woodpecker as it clings to tree trunks and branches, but is often heard rather than seen - listen for the drumming sound on dead tree boughs during the spring.
Habitat
They are found in all kinds of woodland especially with mature broad-leaved trees, although mature conifers will support them. More recently they are coming into parks and gardens where they will come to peanut feeders and bird tables.
Description
The Great Spotted Woodpecker is the most common and widespread of the British woodpeckers. They have pied plumage, with bold white oval shoulder patches and spot’s on its wings standing out against a black back. They also have white barring across their backs, which is only noticeable during their undulating flight. There is a prominent red patch under the tail.
Their forecrown is white with a black crown and nape. Males are identifiable from females as they have a red nape patch (back of their head). Juveniles are grey in colour with a red crown.
Biology
Insects, nuts, seeds and insects (especially beetles and their larvae) make up the majority of the birds diet, but they have also been known to take birds eggs and nestlings on occasion. They use crevices in tree trunks as 'anvils' to prise open seed casings to get to the seed inside. The kernels pile up at the base of these trees giving away their presence. It uses its long sticky tongue to pick insects from crevices in tree trunks and branches, or by stripping away loose bark to expose them.
They rarely come to ground but are becoming more regular visitors to bird tables. They can often be seen moving in jerks up a tree trunk supported by its stiff tail-feathers.
The main call is a loud 'kick kick'. During spring, it can be heard drumming; this sound is produced by beating the bill on a dead branch which acts as a territorial defence and is carried out by both sexes, usually in March and April.
They nest from May to June, only raising one brood per year; the young are raised in the hollow tree trunks high up in the tree (usually about 4m from the ground) with both males and females raising the young. Incubation lasts fro 16 days and the young are in the nest for another 20 – 24 days and mature after a year.
