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Monday 20 July 2009

Great Spotted Woodpecker

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The Great Spotted Woodpecker is the UK's most common woodpecker, is sometimes called the 'Pied Woodpecker' because of its black and white colouring. Its trunk-clinging habits, characteristic shape and black and white plumage eliminate all other British birds except Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers. Apart from being much bigger, the Great Spotted is easily told by the big white patches on its shoulders, as well as the red under-tail coverts. Juveniles have red along the crown, the male has a red spot on the nape but the female has no red on her head at all. The white shoulder patches show up clearly in flight which is characteristically bounding. I have been lucky enough to see plenty of these over the last 2 years at the feeders I help to maintain in a carpark on Woodhead.

7 comments:

Kerri Farley said...

Wow Tom! What a magnificent creature! And FABULOUS photos!!

FO - 2 said...

I've seen it around here lately also.
A charming fellow.
Your pictures here are very good, Tom.
I hope to get some captures just like these - one day...

Arija said...

Tom I really wish you would join this post to Birds Weekly, The logo on my dide bar wil take you there, it is wirth showing to other bitd lovers.

KAZ said...

This is a fabulous bird whose plumage must have been chosen by a designer.
That last photo is awesome.

Rune Eide said...

You are a great "spotter" yourself - in the sense that you can spot the various birds and name them too! Not to mention the pictures.

EG CameraGirl said...

This woodpecker has a good deal more red on it than any I've seen here. Great shots!

nonizamboni said...

These are awesome photos. . .And so are the ones of that new grandson!! Many congratulations to you all.
p.s. Hoping you'll be joining ABC Wednesday?