Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) https://karits.eu/index.php/2025/04/23/great-spotted-woodpecker-dendrocopos-major-4/

🐦 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!