Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Green Woodpecker

Picus viridis

Length
32 cm
Weight
190 g
Clutch
5–7 eggs
Incubation
19–20 days
Fledging
18–21 days
Broods
1 per year
Nest box
Does not use enclosed boxes

Identification

  • Green with a yellow rump
  • Red crown
  • Feeds on lawns

Laughing 'yaffle'.

Diet and garden feeding

Mainly ants dug from lawns.

  • Does not visit feeders.
  • Leave lawns unsprayed to keep ants — its main food.

Nesting

Excavated tree hole.

Green Woodpeckers by country

Sources

  1. Green Woodpecker — RSPB bird guide
  2. Green Woodpecker — BTO BirdFacts

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.