# Black Woodpecker (*Dryocopus martius*) The Black Woodpecker is a large bird with a shiny black body and a bright red crown. They love to drum on trees to find food and make their homes in forests. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Forests ![Black Woodpecker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/BlackWoods.jpg&width=800) Photo: Alastair Rae from London, United Kingdom, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:BlackWoods.jpg) ## Appearance The Black Woodpecker is a strikingly large bird, almost entirely jet black with a bright crimson cap on its head. Males have an entirely red crown, while females have red only on the back of their crown. Its pale yellow eye stands out against its dark plumage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Dryocopus ## Interesting facts - At over half a meter tall, they are Europe's largest and most impressive woodpecker! - Their drumming can be heard from miles away, like a powerful drum solo through the forest! - They can see and follow the hidden tunnels of ants and beetle larvae under bark! - They create big holes in trees that many other forest animals then use as homes! ## Special abilities - **Head-Banging Protection:** Black Woodpeckers have a specially designed skull that acts like a shock absorber, protecting their brain from powerful pecking impacts. - **Super Sticky Tongue:** Black Woodpeckers have a long, barbed, and sticky tongue that helps them snatch insects from deep within tree tunnels. - **Tail Prop:** Black Woodpeckers have very stiff tail feathers that act like a tripod, bracing them securely against tree trunks while they peck. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 45-57 cm - **Wingspan:** 64-80 cm - **Weight:** 0.25-0.45 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-6 - **Incubation:** 12-14 days ## Diet & Feeding These powerful birds feast mainly on insects found hidden inside trees! - **Primary Foods:** carpenter ants, wood-boring beetle larvae, other insects - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** red wood ant (*Formica rufa*) — Primary prey, excavated from their nests. - **Shelter:** [tawny owl](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tawny-owl) (*Strix aluco*) — Uses abandoned nest cavities for nesting. - **Eaten by:** [pine marten](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pine-marten) (*Martes martes*) — May prey on eggs, nestlings, or adult birds. - **Shelter:** parti-coloured bat (*Vespertilio murinus*) — Uses old tree holes for roosting. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't disturb their nests. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black Woodpecker? 45-57 cm ### What is Black Woodpecker's wingspan? 64-80 cm ### How much does Black Woodpecker weigh? 0.25-0.45 kg ### How long does Black Woodpecker live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Black Woodpecker move? 50 km/h ### What does Black Woodpecker eat? These powerful birds feast mainly on insects found hidden inside trees! ### Where is Black Woodpecker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Biosphärenreservat Thüringer Wald](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharenreservat-thuringer-wald) — Thüringen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Schönbuch](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-schonbuch) — Baden-Württemberg, DE · Park - [Biosphärenreservat Karstlandschaft Südharz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/biospharenreservat-karstlandschaft-sudharz) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park - [Hainich National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hainich-national-park) — Thüringen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Fichtelgebirge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fichtelgebirge-nature-park) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Naturpark Harz/Sachsen-Anhalt](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-harz-sachsen-anhalt) — Sachsen-Anhalt, DE · Park [View all places to see Black Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-woodpecker) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Black Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-woodpecker)