Greater Spotted Woodpecker , Dendrocopos major

The Great spotted woodpecker , Dendrocopos major is one of three native woodpeckers here in the U.K ( the other two species are the Lesser spotted and Green woodpecker ) The Great spotted woodpecker is actually smaller than most people imagine being roughly the same size as a Blackbird. It’s easily confused with the lesser spotted woodpecker, which is much smaller (roughly sparrow-sized) and has distinctive white stripes on its back.

The GSW have white cheeks with black lines underneath and a black cap. Males can be identified by a red patch on the back of the neck. They have a pale breast with black upper parts, and a bright red rump. Their wings are black with white spots. It has a wingspan of 34 to 38cm and an average weight of around 85g. The beak is thick and powerful. The average lifespan in the wild is approximately two years.

Great spotted woodpeckers can be found across mainland Britain, but are limited to the west of Ireland. Mature broadleaved woodland is prime habitat, but great spotted woodpeckers can be found in coniferous woodland and parks or gardens with plenty of mature trees. Listening out for the great spotted woodpecker’s distinctive drumming is the easiest way to tell if the species is around. You might also see the holes woodpeckers have made in tree trunks when hunting. Sightings in woodland are often fleeting, as these birds can be shy of humans. The best views are often available in gardens, where woodpeckers are attracted to feeders containing nuts, seeds and suet.

Although there are over 200 species of woodpecker in the world, there are only 3 species in the UK: the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, and the Green Woodpecker.

Read more at www.wildonline.blog

Taken in: UK / England / Aldbourne (show map)

Taken on: December 20, 2022

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Camera: Canon EOS R5, f/11.0, 1/500 sec, 800mm, ISO 12800 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS R5
Lens:	Canon RF800mm F11 IS STM
Aperture:	f/11.0
Exposure Time:	0.002 sec (1/500)
Focal Length:	800mm
ISO:	12800
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	No Flash
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
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