ExploreBird

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a colorful bird with a black and white body and a bright red patch on its head. It loves to peck on trees to find yummy bugs to eat.

Habitat: Forests and woodlands

Appearance

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird with striking pied black and white plumage. It has a distinctive black cap, white cheeks, and a bright red patch under its tail. Males also have a small red spot on the nape of their neck, making them easily identifiable.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPiciformesFamilyPicidaeGenusDendrocopos

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Interesting facts

A woodpecker’s tongue actually wraps around its entire skull to protect its brain!

Great Spotted Woodpeckers stash food like nuts and seeds in tree bark for later snacks.

Their drumming isn't just for food; it's also how they attract mates and mark their territory!

They can cling to vertical tree trunks upside down with no problem thanks to strong feet.

Special abilities

The Great Spotted Woodpecker has a specially designed skull and strong neck muscles that help them absorb the impact of pecking hard wood.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers can extend their long, barbed, sticky tongue far out to extract insects and larvae from deep crevices.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers use their stiff tail feathers as a prop, bracing themselves against tree trunks for stability while pecking.

Measurements & details

Length: 20-24 cm
Wingspan: 34-39 cm
Weight: 0.07-0.098 kg
Lifespan: 6-11 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 4-7
Incubation: 10-13 days

Diet & Feeding

They mostly eat insects hidden in trees, but also enjoy seeds, nuts, and sometimes even eggs.

Age differences: Young chicks are fed mostly insects by their parents, gradually transitioning to a varied adult diet.

Primary Foods

wood-boring beetle larvae
ants
spiders
seeds
nuts
tree sap

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

eats

Red wood ant

Formica rufa

Preys on ants found in wood and on the ground.

eaten by

Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Accipiter nisus

A common aerial predator of adult woodpeckers.

shelters

Pedunculate Oak

Quercus robur

Excavates nesting and roosting cavities in mature trees.

Traits

Wildlife

Step into the incredible world of wild animals and plants living freely in nature. From tiny insects to towering trees, it's all part of the wild wonders around us!

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Singing

Listen to the beautiful sounds of nature's singers! These animals use their voices to attract friends, mark their territory, or even warn others.

Arboreal

Climb high with animals who love living in trees! These agile creatures find their food, shelter, and even raise their families among the branches.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!