Great Spotted Woodpecker

Great spotted woodpeckers nest in holes which they excavate in trees in woodlands (mainly broadleaved), large parks and gardens.

They have a distinctive, bouncing flight but are mostly likely to be heard ‘drumming’ away at a tree trunk, performing their breeding displays.

Great spotted woodpeckers probe tree trunks for insects and larvae to eat; they have extremely sticky tongues enabling them to extract the insects from their nests. In autumn and winter they will switch to eating berries and nuts and will visit peanut feeders hung in the garden.

How to Identify

The great spotted woodpecker is black and white with white shoulder patches and red underneath the tail. Males have a red patch at the back of the head. Could be confused with the lesser spotted woodpecker which is much smaller.

Where to Find

Widespread, although absent from northern Scotland and most of Ireland.

How People Can Help

You can help to look after great spotted woodpeckers and many more of our common and rarer garden birds by providing food and water for them – it doesn’t matter if you have a big garden or live in a high-rise flat, there are plenty of feeders, baths and food choices out there to suit all kinds of situations. To find out more about encouraging wildlife into your garden, visit our Wild About Gardens website: a joint initiative with the RHS, there’s plenty of facts and tips to get you started.

Did you know?

In the last couple of years the great spotted woodpecker has started to nest in Ireland for the first time.