Bird 🐦
🐦
Dendrocopos major
| Size | 22–23 cm About the size of a large starling |
|---|---|
| Weight | 70–98 g About the weight of a small apple |
| Lifespan | 11 years |
| Rarity | Common |
| M vs F | Males have a red patch on the back of the head; females have no red on the head at all. Both have a red vent. |
| Habitat | Woodland, parks, large gardens with mature trees |
| Best time | Year-round; most visible and vocal in spring |
| Conservation | UK: Green LC |
Did you know?
A woodpecker's skull has a built-in shock absorber — its brain is wrapped in spongy bone and positioned to minimise impact from up to 20 pecks per second
A woodpecker's skull has a built-in shock absorber — its brain is wrapped in spongy bone and positioned to minimise impact from up to 20 pecks per second
More for experts
Its tongue is so long it wraps around the skull — anchored to the right nostril — allowing it to probe deep into bark for beetle larvae
Often confused with
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (sparrow-sized, streaked, no bold white shoulder patch), Green Woodpecker (green, red crown, laughing call)
Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (sparrow-sized, streaked, no bold white shoulder patch), Green Woodpecker (green, red crown, laughing call)