Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

🐦 Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is one of Europe’s most recognizable and widespread woodpeckers. With its bold black-and-white plumage and vibrant red markings, it’s a regular feature of woodlands, parks, and even gardens. Known for its loud drumming and agile tree-climbing, this bird is a true woodland percussionist.

🔍 Identification

• Size: Around 23 cm (9 in) long
• Wingspan: 34–39 cm
• Coloration:
  • Black and white body with distinctive white shoulder patches
  • Males have a red patch on the nape of the neck
  • Females lack the red nape
  • Both sexes have a red vent (under the tail)
  • Juveniles have a red crown on top of the head

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

• Range: Widely distributed across Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa
• Habitat:
  • Deciduous and mixed woodlands
  • Parks, orchards, and mature gardens
  • Prefers areas with old trees for nesting and feeding

🔊 Behavior & Ecology

• Drumming:
  • Males and females drum on trees (or even poles) to establish territory and attract mates
  • The sound is rapid and repeated, like a machine gun burst
• Feeding:
  • Diet includes insects, especially beetle larvae, which they extract from bark
  • Also eats nuts, seeds, and tree sap
  • Will visit bird feeders, especially for peanuts and suet
• Nesting:
  • Excavates a hole in dead or decaying tree trunks
  • Lays 4–7 white eggs in late spring
  • Both parents incubate and feed the young

🧭 Seasonal Activity

• Resident in most of its range
• Some northern populations move south in harsh winters
• More visible in spring due to drumming and courtship behavior

🪵 Interesting Facts

• Uses its tail feathers as a prop to stay upright while climbing
• Has a shock-absorbing skull to protect its brain from drumming impact
• Its tongue can extend far beyond its beak, perfect for snagging insects
• Can be heard more often than seen—especially in wooded areas

🌟 Summary

The Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is a charismatic and hardy bird that brings rhythm to the forest with its signature drumming. A master carpenter and clever forager, it’s a favorite among birdwatchers and a welcome visitor to woodland and garden alike. Keep an eye—and an ear—out for this black, white, and red marvel!

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