# European Green Woodpecker (*Picus viridis*) The European Green Woodpecker is a colorful bird known for its bright green feathers and cheerful call. It loves to eat ants and can often be found pecking on tree trunks. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Woodlands and parks - **Also known as:** Greeback, Green Woodpecker ![European Green Woodpecker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424466/objects/4579.jpg) ## Appearance The European Green Woodpecker has a vibrant olive-green back, a pale greyish-green belly, and a striking crimson cap. Its distinctive black facial stripe, often with a red center in males, makes it easily recognizable among other woodpeckers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Picus ## Interesting facts - A green woodpecker's loud, yodeling call sounds just like a joyful laugh! - Their flexible skull helps protect their brain from pecking impact. - Their tongue is so long, it wraps completely around their skull! - They often spend more time on the ground than in trees, searching for ants! ## Special abilities - **Amazing Tongue Trap:** European Green Woodpecker has an incredibly long, barbed tongue that helps them snatch ants from deep underground nests. - **Earth Seeker Vision:** European Green Woodpecker can spot tiny ant hills from above because of its keen eyesight, helping them find hidden meals. - **Ground Buster Beak:** European Green Woodpecker has a strong, chisel-like beak that helps them dig into soil and rotten wood to uncover insect colonies. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 31-33 cm - **Wingspan:** 40-45 cm - **Weight:** 0.15-0.25 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 5-7 - **Incubation:** 18-19 days - **Migration Distance:** 0 km ## Diet & Feeding These green birds are expert ant-eaters, using their long tongues to slurp up insects! - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Ant larvae, Ant pupae - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Black garden ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — Their main food, found by digging into anthills. - **Eaten by:** Goshawk (*Accipiter gentilis*) — Fierce predator that hunts medium-sized birds like the woodpecker. - **Depends on:** Common Starling (*Sturnus vulgaris*) — Often uses abandoned nesting holes made by woodpeckers. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Singing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/singing): Singing animals produce complex vocalizations, often for purposes of attracting mates, defending territory, or communicating within their species. - [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. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low European Green Woodpeckers are friendly and not dangerous. Enjoy watching them from a distance! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify European Green 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 European Green Woodpecker? 31-33 cm ### What is European Green Woodpecker's wingspan? 40-45 cm ### How much does European Green Woodpecker weigh? 0.15-0.25 kg ### How long does European Green Woodpecker live? 5-10 years ### How fast can European Green Woodpecker move? 50 km/h ### What does European Green Woodpecker eat? These green birds are expert ant-eaters, using their long tongues to slurp up insects! ### Where is European Green Woodpecker usually found? Woodlands and parks ## Where to spot - [Zoo Dortmund](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-dortmund) — North Rhine-Westphalia, DE · Zoo - [Tierpark Hellabrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hellabrunn) — Bavaria, DE · Zoo - [London Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/london-aquarium) — England, GB · Aquarium - [Hainich National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hainich-national-park) — Thüringen, DE · Park - [Naturpark Hessischer Spessart](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hessian-spessart-nature-park) — Hessen, DE · Park - [CarlAlexanderPark (Baesweiler)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carlalexanderpark-baesweiler) — Nordrhein-Westfalen, DE · Park [View all places to see European Green Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/european-green-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: [European Green Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-green-woodpecker)