{"id":296,"date":"2025-06-17T23:54:29","date_gmt":"2025-06-17T23:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildpix.eu\/?p=296"},"modified":"2025-06-17T23:54:29","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T23:54:29","slug":"great-spotted-woodpecker-dendrocopos-major-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wildpix.karits.eu\/index.php\/2025\/06\/17\/great-spotted-woodpecker-dendrocopos-major-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\ud83d\udccc Overview<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker found across Europe and parts of Asia. It is well-known for its distinctive black and white plumage, loud drumming on trees, and characteristic undulating flight. It is one of the most commonly seen woodpeckers in its range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udd0d Identification<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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  • Size<\/strong>: About 23\u201326 cm long (9\u201310 in), wingspan 38\u201344 cm.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Weight<\/strong>: 70\u2013100 g.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Plumage<\/strong>:\n
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    • Black and white<\/strong> back, wings, and tail.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • White underparts<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Red vent<\/strong> (under the tail).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Males<\/strong> have a red patch on the back of the head<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    • Juveniles<\/strong> often have a red crown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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      \ud83c\udf0d Distribution & Habitat<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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      • Range<\/strong>: Widely distributed across Europe and northern Asia. Absent from Ireland, parts of southern Spain, and extreme northern Scandinavia.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      • Habitat<\/strong>: Prefers deciduous and mixed forests, parks, orchards, and gardens with mature trees.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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        \ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f Diet<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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        • Omnivorous:\n
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          • Insects and larvae (especially beetles).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Seeds and nuts (particularly in winter).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Tree sap and berries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
          • Occasionally takes eggs and nestlings of other birds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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            \ud83e\udeba Breeding<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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            • Breeding Season<\/strong>: April to June.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Nest<\/strong>: Excavated in dead or decaying trees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Clutch<\/strong>: 4\u20137 eggs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Incubation<\/strong>: About 10\u201313 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
            • Fledging<\/strong>: Chicks leave the nest after 3 weeks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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              \ud83d\udde3\ufe0f Calls and Drumming<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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              • Call<\/strong>: Sharp “kick” or “chip” sound.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
              • Drumming<\/strong>: Rapid pecking on wood used to establish territory and attract mates, especially in spring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                \ud83d\udcca Conservation Status<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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                • IUCN Red List<\/strong>: Least Concern.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                • Population Trend<\/strong>: Increasing in many areas due to reforestation and adaptation to parks and gardens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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                  \ud83e\udde0 Interesting Facts<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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                  • The Great Spotted Woodpecker has a specially adapted skull that protects its brain from repeated impacts during drumming.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • It can extract insects from under bark using its long, sticky tongue.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
                  • Plays an important ecological role by creating nest holes that other species use later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
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