Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopos major
- Length
- 23 cm
- Weight
- 85 g
- Clutch
- 4–6 eggs
- Incubation
- 10–13 days
- Fledging
- 20–24 days
- Broods
- 1 per year
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
Identification
- Black and white with large white shoulder patches
- Red under the tail
- Male red nape patch
Sharp 'kik' and rapid drumming in spring.
Diet and garden feeding
Insect larvae, seeds and nuts; also nestlings.
- Best foods: Peanuts, Suet.
- Juveniles have a red crown — often mistaken for another species in summer.
Nesting
Excavated tree hole.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers by country
England
Resident all year · nests April–June
Scotland
Resident all year · nests May–June
Wales
Resident all year · nests April–June
Northern Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Ireland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Netherlands
Resident all year · nests April–June
Belgium
Resident all year · nests April–June
Germany
Resident all year · nests April–June
France
Resident all year · nests April–June
Denmark
Resident all year · nests April–June
Sweden
Resident all year · nests May–June
Norway
Resident all year · nests May–June
Finland
Resident all year · nests May–June
Spain
Resident all year · nests March–June
Portugal
Resident all year · nests March–June
Italy
Resident all year · nests March–June
Austria
Resident all year · nests April–June
Switzerland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Poland
Resident all year · nests April–June
Sources
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.