Species guide
Great Spotted Woodpecker: how to recognise it
A bird of Europe, Africa and Asia. Learn the marks that make it easy to identify, then practise with real photographs in Lore.
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Photo © Elio Giacone · CC BY-NC · iNaturalist · all photo credits
- Scientific name
- Dendrocopos major
- Family
- Woodpeckers
- Size
- About 22–23 cm
- Habitat
- Woodland, parks and gardens
- Found in
- Europe, Africa and Asia
The key marks
Black and white with a large white shoulder patch and bright red under the tail. Males also have a red patch on the back of the head.
Voice
A sharp “kik” call and fast drumming.
Good to know
In spring it drums on dead trunks, a fast roll that carries a long way.
Where and when
You can expect to find it in woodland, parks and gardens. It is especially common in Sweden and Poland. Distribution changes with the seasons and from year to year, so check a recent local observation source before you go looking.