Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Sweden
When the Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) is present in Sweden, when it nests, and which native Sweden plants supply the food it depends on.
- Status in Sweden
- Resident all year
- Nesting season
- May–June
- Size
- 23 cm, 85 g
- Nest box
- Does not use enclosed boxes
When to expect great spotted woodpeckers in Sweden
The Great Spotted Woodpecker lives in Sweden all year round. Long, cold winters with snow; feeders keep tits, Nuthatches and finches going for months.
Temperate in the south, boreal across most of the country and subarctic in the far north.
Nesting in Sweden
In Sweden the Great Spotted Woodpecker usually nests May–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 Sweden plants for great spotted woodpeckers
Of the native plants we track for Sweden, 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.
Early-summer cherries for Blackbirds and Jays.
Windfalls sustain thrushes and Fieldfares into winter.
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 Sweden all year?
Yes — the Great Spotted Woodpecker is resident in Sweden all year.
When do great spotted woodpeckers nest in Sweden?
Typically May–June. Clutches are 4–6 eggs, incubated for 10–13 days, with 1 per year.
Which native plants help great spotted woodpeckers in Sweden?
Hawthorn, Ivy, Elder, Blackthorn, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Wild cherry, Crab apple are native to Sweden and provide food or cover the Great Spotted Woodpecker uses.
Great Spotted Woodpeckers in other countries
Other garden birds in Sweden
Sources
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — RSPB bird guide
- Great Spotted Woodpecker — BTO BirdFacts
- Svensk fågelatlas — BirdLife Sverige
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.