Wednesday 4 June 2008

Black Woodpecker: identifying a feeding site

Here is a photo of a feeding site of a woodpecker (taken this May in the Soomaa National Park, Estonia). Several things point to this being the work of a Black Woodpecker. Firstly, the size of the holes made (an adult's hand can easily fit inside), Secondly, the location (being at ground level, only Black, Green and Grey-headed are comfortable feeding with their feet on terra firma). Thirdly, the size of the wood chips (some 6cm long). And, though not really visible in this photo, the beak marks on the timber were very large, too large for any other European woodpecker species.