Great Spotted Woodpecker

The Great Spotted Woodpecker can commonly be found in woodlands, especially those with mature broad-leaved trees. It uses tree trunks to hide by moving to the side away from any possible threats. They can be seen in parks or gardens, and they are especially fond of peanut feeds and bird tables. You cannot find them in Ireland or the far North of Scotland.

You don’t need to see them to know they are there; the giveaway signs are its loud call or distinctive spring ‘drumming’ display. This is the repeated thud you hear of something hitting a tree. The males have a beautiful red patch on the back of their heads, and the younger birds have a red crown. You can see these birds all year round.

They feed on insects (especially ants and larvae of wood-boring beetles), fruit, seeds and nuts. Their main diet does vary during the changes of season. On its search for food, it will mount the trunk and work from the bottom to the top whilst going from side to side. The Great Spotted Woodpecker doesn’t climb up the tree, but instead hops. It has been seen that they can be rather aggressive when it comes to feeding, and will viciously peck at other birds trying to steal its food.

At night, the woodpecker will roost alone in the holes in a tree’s trunk. If there are not any suitable holes available, it will simply excavate its own. Normally, a new nest is made each spring and is rarely less than 10 to 12ft from the ground, and is actually often a lot higher than this. Both parent woodpeckers excavate for this nest, and the task will take around 2 to 3 weeks. They lay around 5 to 7 creamy white eggs, and this is usually during the second half of May. Many pairs are dispossessed by starlings, and are therefore unable to breed until early June. Interestingly, if the same tree is used for nesting in consecutive years, the hole that is excavated is usually found to be below that of the previous year. In the UK there are an estimated 37,000 to 47,000 breeding pairs.

_{Sourced from Birds of Britain and the RSPB}