Great Spotted Woodpecker

The great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is a common species of woodpecker with a range extending across Europe and northern Asia. It is easily identifiable by its black and white plumage with prominent red patches underneath the tail. Males also have red at the base of the nape, whereas females lack this. Juveniles also display a red crown, which gradually disappears as they age. This medium-sized woodpecker measures about 20-24 cm (7.9-9.4 in) in length, and weighs from 66 to 98 grams (2.3-3.5 oz). It is very similar to the Syrian woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus), which has a larger patch of red nape and lacks the black band behind the ears, and the white-winged woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos), which has much more white on its wings. 

Great spotted woodpeckers are versatile in their habitat preferences, inhabiting a wide range of wooded areas from lowland deciduous forests to mountainous coniferous forests. They are adaptable and can also be found in parks and large gardens. Their diet is diverse, consisting primarily of insects and their larvae, especially those burrowing into wood. They are also known to eat seeds, nuts (particularly enjoying the seeds of pine cones), and tree sap, and will visit bird feeders in winter months. Their feeding technique is well known, as they hammer into wood to excavate beetle larvae or to create cavities for extracting sap. Occasionally, these woodpeckers exhibit kleptoparasitic behavior, raiding nests of other birds to steal eggs or nestlings, and they are one of the few bird species known to prey on bats.

The breeding season starts in late April when males establish territories and attract females by drumming loudly on tree trunks or wooden poles. They have a special shock-absorbing structure in their skulls that helps to mitigate the impact forces when hammering into wood. Nests are typically located in dead trees or branches where both sexes participate in excavating a hole. The interior is not lined but left bare for the 4-6 white eggs laid by the female. Both parents share incubation duties over a period of about 12 days. Chicks are altricial, remaining in the nest for 20-23 days post-hatching, where they are fed a diet of insects by both parents.

The great spotted woodpecker has a wide distribution and a large population that is believed to be increasing in numbers. It benefits from being able to live close to human settlements and in near urban environments. It is listed as least concern on the IUCN Red List.