Great Spotted Woodpeckers in England
When the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is present in England, when it nests, and which native England plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in England
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- April–June
- Size
- 23 cm, 85 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
- Delivery
- Perch Supply ships to the UK
When to expect great spotted woodpeckers in England
The Great Spotted Woodpecker lives in England all year round. Frosts are frequent but prolonged snow is rare in the south; garden feeders carry tits and finches through January and February, and Continental thrushes arrive in hard weather.
Temperate maritime: mild, damp and changeable, drier and sunnier in the south-east than the north-west.
Nesting in England
In England 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 England plants for great spotted woodpeckers
Of the native plants we track for England, 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 England all year?
Yes — the Great Spotted Woodpecker is resident in England all year.
When do great spotted woodpeckers nest in England?
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 England?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Common knapweed, Wild cherry are native to England and provide food or cover the Great Spotted Woodpecker uses.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers in other countries
Other garden birds in England
Sources
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — RSPB bird guide
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — BTO BirdFacts
- Bird Atlas 2007–11 — British Trust for Ornithology
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.