Species Profile

Great Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

Quick Facts

Conservation

LCLeast Concern

Lifespan

10–11 years

Length

23–26 cm

Weight

70–98 g

Wingspan

38–44 cm

Migration

Resident

With its striking black-and-white plumage and bright red patches, this master drummer is a forest favourite worldwide.

Also known as: Greater Spotted Woodpecker

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Gallery

Appearance

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a striking bird with bold black and white plumage. It has a distinctive black back with large white shoulder patches, white cheeks, and a white belly. The undertail coverts are bright red. Each wing has a prominent white bar and several white spots.

Males have a red patch on the nape, which females lack. Juveniles can be identified by a red crown, which is absent in adults. The bird's strong, chisel-like bill is perfectly adapted for drumming and foraging on trees.

Identification & Characteristics

Colors

Primary: Black
Secondary: Red
Beak: Grey
Legs: Grey

Attributes

Agility85/100

Strength70/100

Adaptability80/100

Aggression60/100

Endurance75/100

Understanding Attributes

Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Habitat & Distribution

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are widely distributed across Europe and parts of Asia. They inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, parks, and large gardens. In the UK, they are resident and can be found throughout England, Wales, and Scotland.

These adaptable birds have also colonised urban areas with sufficient mature trees. Their range has been expanding northwards in recent decades, possibly due to climate change and increased winter feeding by humans.

Distribution

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Where to See This Bird

Explore regional guides for locations where this bird has been recorded.

United Kingdom

England

Scotland

Wales

Cambridgeshire

Rutland

Bedfordshire

Buckinghamshire

Berkshire

Bristol

Cheshire

Cornwall

Cumbria

Derbyshire

Devon

Dorset

Durham

East Riding of Yorkshire

Essex

East Sussex

Gloucestershire

Hampshire

Herefordshire

Hertfordshire

Isle of Wight

Kent

Merseyside

Lancashire

Leicestershire

Lincolnshire

London

Manchester

Northumberland

Norfolk

Northamptonshire

Nottinghamshire

North Yorkshire

West Midlands

Oxfordshire

South Yorkshire

Tyne and Wear

Suffolk

Shropshire

Somerset

Surrey

Staffordshire

Stockton-on-Tees

Warwickshire

Wiltshire

West Yorkshire

Worcestershire

West Sussex

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Diet

Great Spotted Woodpeckers have a varied diet that includes insects, larvae, and seeds. They are particularly fond of wood-boring beetles and their larvae, which they extract from trees using their strong bills. In winter, they frequently visit bird feeders, preferring peanuts and suet.

Behaviour

Great Spotted Woodpeckers are known for their characteristic drumming on trees, which serves both for foraging and communication. They move in a distinctive bounding flight pattern between trees. These birds are generally solitary but may form loose flocks in winter, often joining mixed-species feeding groups.

Calls & Sounds

The Great Spotted Woodpecker's call is a sharp, loud 'kik' or 'tchik'. During the breeding season, their distinctive drumming serves as a territorial signal and mating call. This rapid series of pecks lasts about a second and sounds like a short burst of 'drrrrrrr', often amplified by choosing resonant dead branches.

One of their most distinctive sounds is made by tapping on hollow resonant wood rather than calling. Males, and occasionally females, also produce a rapid rolling drumming sound that lasts about two seconds.

Nesting & Breeding

Breeding season for Great Spotted Woodpeckers typically begins in late April or early May. Males attract females through drumming displays and calls.

Both sexes excavate a new nesting hole each year, usually in a tree with soft or decaying wood. The female lays 4-7 glossy white eggs in the bare wood cavity.

Incubation lasts about 12 days, with both parents sharing duties. Nestlings fledge after 20-23 days but may return to the nest for several weeks. Parents continue to feed fledglings for up to 10 days after leaving the nest.

Conservation

While the Great Spotted Woodpecker is currently listed as Least Concern, it faces localised threats from habitat loss and fragmentation.

In many areas, particularly in the UK and parts of Europe, populations have been increasing, possibly due to adaptation to human-modified habitats and increased availability of bird feeders.

LCLeast Concern

^[1]

Population

Estimated: 73,700,000 - 110,300,000 mature individuals^[3]

Trend: Increasing^[2]

Elevation

Up to 2,500 meters

Additional Details

Predators:: Main predators include sparrowhawks, goshawks, and domestic cats. Squirrels and woodpeckers may prey on eggs and nestlings.

Birdwatching Tips

Listen for their loud, rhythmic drumming on trees
Look for their undulating flight pattern between trees
Check bird feeders, especially those with peanuts or suet
In the UK, visit deciduous or mixed woodlands year-round

Did You Know?

Great Spotted Woodpeckers have shock-absorbing tissue between their bills and skulls to prevent brain damage from repeated pecking.
They can drum up to 20 times per second.
In some areas, they've learned to punch holes in milk bottle tops to drink the cream.