Learn to tell the difference between Britain's three resident woodpecker species, plus a special guest, with our quick guide to their appearance, sounds and behaviour.
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The Green Woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It's green on its upperparts with a paler belly, bright yellow rump and red on the top of its head.
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What are woodpeckers? There are three species of woodpecker in the UK; the green woodpecker (Picus viridis), the great spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) and the lesser spotted woodpecker (Dendrocopos minor).
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Woodpeckers. With over two-hundred representatives in the Picidae family, Woodpeckers are a widespread and diverse group of birds with some remarkable behaviors and bizarre adaptations. Largely built for life in the trees, they occupy many habitats, from rainforests to deserts and even treeless mountain slopes.
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The Green Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker species found in the UK. Its loud laughing call is behind the affectionate folk name of ‘yaffle’. Green Woodpecker diet consists primarily of ants, and individuals may be seen feeding from an ant nest located in the short turf of a garden lawn or woodland ride.
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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. Only likely to be confused with the lesser spotted woodpecker which is much smaller.
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woodpecker, any of about 180 species of birds that constitute the subfamily Picinae (true woodpeckers) of the family Picidae (order Piciformes), noted for probing for insects in tree bark and for chiseling nest holes in deadwood.
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With its striking black, white and red plumage, the Great Spotted Woodpecker’s characteristic drumming display can be heard in woodlands across all but the most northerly regions of Britain. The species has a small but expanding range in Ireland.
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Identify UK woodpeckers. There are three species of British woodpecker and our guide will show you how to tell them apart!
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