Great-spotted woodpecker  (Dendrocopos major)

Species information

Videos and images
Loading loading
Great-spotted woodpecker
Great-spotted woodpecker

The great spotted woodpecker is the most common and widespread of the British woodpeckers. It has black and white plumage, a prominent oval-shaped white patch on each wing, a red patch under the tail; males also have a red patch on the rear of the

... More
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderPiciformes
FamilyPicidae
GenusDendrocopos (1)
SizeLength: 23-26 cm (2)
Wingspan: 38-44 cm (2)

Status

Widespread and common species. Protected at all times under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981 (3) and included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Green List (low conservation concern) (4).

Description

The great spotted woodpecker is the most common and widespread of the British woodpeckers (5). It has black and white plumage, a prominent oval-shaped white patch on each wing, a red patch under the tail; males also have a red patch on the rear of the head (2). Juveniles can be identified by their red crown (2). The main call is a sharp 'kick', which may be repeated. During spring, it can be heard drumming; this sound is produced by beating the bill on a dead branch (5).

Range

This woodpecker is most common in southern England, although it is absent from the fens of East Anglia and from higher ground. It has a patchier distribution in Wales, southwest England and Scotland (6).

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Habitat

Found in both broadleaved and coniferous woodlands and forests, and more recently has begun to exploit gardens and parks (5).

Biology

The great spotted woodpecker feeds on seeds, invertebrates, and occasionally bird eggs and nestlings (2). It often extracts seeds from kernels by wedging them in crevices in tree bark, which act as 'anvils'; a pile of cones often builds up under these anvils, betraying their presence (2).

Drumming, which acts as a territorial defence, is carried out by both sexes, usually in March and April (5). After a courtship display, both sexes help to excavate the nest in a tree (5). The chamber is typically 30 cm deep, and the oval-shaped entrance hole is around 4 m from the ground (5). From mid-May to early June between 4 and 7 white eggs are laid; the female incubates them for 16 days, after which time both parents feed the young for 18-21 days. Just one brood is produced a year (5).

Threats

Not currently threatened (7).

Conservation

No specific conservation action has been targeted at this species.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more on this species, see:

For more on British birds, see:

Authentication

Information authenticated by the RSPB:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/

References

  1. The National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (November 2002): http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
  2. Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterstrom, D., & Grant, P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London.
  3. RSPB (2003) Pers. comm.
  4. RSPB (2003) The population status of birds in the UK: http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/5_20625.pdf
  5. Gooder, J. (1982) Collins British Birds. William Collins Sons and Co Ltd, London.
  6. Lack, P. (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd, Calton.
  7. JNCC. Breeding birds in the wider countryside (November 2002): http://www.bto.org/birdtrends/wcrgrswo.htm
left