Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Belgium
When the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is present in Belgium, when it nests, and which native Belgium plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Belgium
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 23 cm, 85 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect great spotted woodpeckers in Belgium
The Great Spotted Woodpecker lives in Belgium all year round. Mild lowland winters; the Ardennes get regular snow.
Temperate maritime near the coast, cooler and wetter in the Ardennes.
Nesting in Belgium
In Belgium the Great Spotted Woodpecker usually nests April–June. Nest site: excavated tree hole. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days; chicks fledge after 20–24 days, and pairs raise 1 per year.
- The Great Spotted Woodpecker does not use enclosed nest boxes — dense native shrubs and climbers give it nest sites.
- Avoid cutting hedges during the nesting season (roughly March to August) — in the UK, disturbing an active nest is an offence under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981.
Native Belgium plants for great spotted woodpeckers
Of the native plants we track for Belgium, these 8 provide food the Great Spotted Woodpecker uses:
Haws feed thrushes all winter; spring blossom supports hundreds of insect species.
Late-winter berries when little else is left, plus dense nesting cover.
Late-summer berries taken by Blackcaps and thrushes.
Thorny cover that protects nests; early blossom for insects.
Berries and nest sites in its tangles; moths for insect-eaters.
Blackberries and impenetrable nesting cover.
Seed heads for Goldfinches and a nectar source for insects.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Feeding in the garden
Insect larvae, seeds and nuts; also nestlings.
- Best foods: Peanuts, Suet.
- Feeders: Suet cage, Peanut mesh.
- Juveniles have a red crown — often mistaken for another species in summer.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked
Are great spotted woodpeckers in Belgium all year?
Yes — the Great Spotted Woodpecker is resident in Belgium all year.
When do great spotted woodpeckers nest in Belgium?
Typically April–June. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help great spotted woodpeckers in Belgium?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to Belgium and provide food or cover the Great Spotted Woodpecker uses.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers in other countries
Other garden birds in Belgium
Sources
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — RSPB bird guide
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — BTO BirdFacts
- Natuurpunt / Natagora breeding bird atlases
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.