# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Forests and woodlands - **Also known as:** Greater Spotted Woodpecker ![Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426923/objects/4580.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Dendrocopos ## 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 - **Shock Absorber Skull:** The Great Spotted Woodpecker has a specially designed skull and strong neck muscles that help them absorb the impact of pecking hard wood. - **Sticky Tongue Grab:** Great Spotted Woodpeckers can extend their long, barbed, sticky tongue far out to extract insects and larvae from deep crevices. - **Tail-Feather Kickstand:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-sparrowhawk) (*Accipiter nisus*) — A common aerial predator of adult woodpeckers. - **Shelter:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Excavates nesting and roosting cavities in mature trees. ## 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 These birds are friendly and not dangerous. Always watch wildlife from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Spotted 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 Great Spotted Woodpecker? 20-24 cm ### What is Great Spotted Woodpecker's wingspan? 34-39 cm ### How much does Great Spotted Woodpecker weigh? 0.07-0.098 kg ### How long does Great Spotted Woodpecker live? 6-11 years ### How fast can Great Spotted Woodpecker move? 50 km/h ### What does Great Spotted Woodpecker eat? They mostly eat insects hidden in trees, but also enjoy seeds, nuts, and sometimes even eggs. ### Where is Great Spotted Woodpecker usually found? Forests and woodlands ## Where to spot - [Woburn Safari Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/woburn-safari-park) — England, GB · Zoo - [Ranuan Eläinpuisto](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ranuan-el-inpuisto) — Lapland, FI · Zoo - [Tierpark Hellabrunn](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/tierpark-hellabrunn) — Bavaria, DE · Zoo - [Zoo Berlin](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-berlin) — Berlin, DE · Zoo - [Naturschutz-Tierpark Görlitz](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturschutz-tierpark-g-rlitz) — Saxony, DE · Zoo - [Bürgerpark (Bremen)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/burgerpark-bremen) — Bremen, DE · Park [View all places to see Great Spotted Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-spotted-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: [Great Spotted Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-spotted-woodpecker)