Gallery: Black Woodpecker in Winter

This female (note that only the rear crown is red) Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius was photographed in the Danube Delta, Romania, in December 2009 by Daniel Petrescu.

WINTER WOODPECKER

BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE FOR THE FESTIVE SEASON...

Photo of this adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major, taken in Hungary by Laszlo Becsy.

Quiz woodpecker 31

Here is a pair of Middle Spotted Woodpeckers Dendrocopos medius snapped by Uku Paal in Estonia. They are the least dimorphic of all European "pied" woodpeckers. So, which is the male and which is the female?

Gallery: Black Woodpecker Adult Male

This great shot of a male Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius was taken in Hungary by Laszlo Nehezy. Click here to see more of Laszlo's superb photography which includes several woodpeckers.

Gallery: Green Woodpecker adult female sharpei race

Adult female Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpei. Photo taken by Mark Etheridge in the Clot de Galvany Nature Reserve (circa 10km south of Alicante) Spain on 18th November 2009. See male at same site, in post below.

Gallery: Green Woodpecker adult male sharpei race

Adult male Green Woodpecker Picus viridis sharpei. The taxonomic status of sharpei race is under discussion and called, when considered a full species, Iberian Woodpecker or Iberian Green Woodpecker. Photo taken by Mark Etheridge in the Clot de Galvany Nature Reserve (circa 10km south of Alicante) Spain on 18th November 2009.

Quiz woodpecker 30

It has been some time since the last "Quiz Woodpecker" post on this blog. So, here is number 30. What do we have in this photo from Estonia ? Which species ? Which sex are these birds?

Woodpecker Holes in Telephone Pole

This photo shows a wooden telephone pole that woodpeckers have made holes in. Both Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major and Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus are present in the park in northern Serbia where this photo was taken and both of these species could be responsible.

Pine Cones Below Anvil

A pile of opened pine cones below the anvil, or workshop, of a Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Favourite anvils are repeatedly used and thus piles of cones accumulate as they are tossed out after being opened and the seeds extracted. Forest near Tartu, Estonia, 2009.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers in Ireland

Finally, Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major has been found breeding in the Republic of Ireland. The species has been breeding in Northern Ireland since 2006, and indeed may have been breeding in the south for some years, but now the firm evidence is there. Eight occupied nesting holes of the species documented in County Wicklow, in 2009. Read about it here: Great Spotteds in Ireland

Tongue of Syrian Woodpecker

This photo of a juvenile Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus, found dead in Budapest, Hungary, was sent to me by Szabolcs Kokay. It shows the amazing, long tongue.

Tree Stripped by Black Woodpecker

This tree has been stripped by Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius. At first glance it may look like the work of White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos which works in a similar way on dead trees, however, the very large wood chips below the tree, the rather ragged nature of the stripped wood and the larger slashes on the tree (indicating the much larger bill of the larger species) all point to Black Woodpecker. Pilis Hills, Hungary, November 2009.

Black Woodpecker Nest Hole

Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius at nest-hole. Note the classic, oval shape of the cavity entrance.No other European woodpecker makes nest holes of this size or shape. This is another shot by my friend Uku Paal in Estonia.

Gallery: White-backed Woodpeckers

Male (above, on tree) and female (below, landing) White-backed Woodpeckers Dendrocopos leucotos. Note red crown of male and black crown of female. This great photo was taken by Uku Paal in Estonia in winter.

Black Woodpecker Very Recent Feeding Site

Recent feeding site of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius in an oak tree. Note the neat oval shape, clean wood and the beak marks. Buda Hills, Hungary, October 2009.

Gallery: Three-toed Woodpecker male alpinus race

Adult male Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus alpinus. Note the yellow crown. This is is only European woodpecker with yellow feathers in its plumage. Photo by László Bécsy, Volovske Mountains, Slovakia, May 2007

Gallery: Male Syrian Woodpecker

Adult male Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus.

Note posted the small red nape patch, the incomplete post-auricular stripe, large white forehead patch and fine tip to the bill. Photo taken in Armenia in 2007, by Uku Paal.

Gallery: Three-toed Woodpecker alpinus race female

Adult female Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus alpinus. The bird is carrying larva prey to its young in the nest-hole. Photo by László Bécsy, Volovske Mountains, Slovakia, May 2007.

Gallery: Three-toed Woodpecker alpinus race male

Adult male Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus alpinus. Photo by László Bécsy taken in the Volovske Mountains, Slovakia, May 2007

Three-Toed Woodpecker Feeding Site

Bark of a Norway Spruce Picea abies removed and peeled back by Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides tridactylus. This woodpecker specialises in predating the larvae of the European Spruce Bark Beetle Ips typographus. The trails of the burrows of the larvae can be clearly seen in this photo. Volovske Mountains, Slovakia, September 2009.

Black Woodpecker: Log Feeding Site

Recent feeding site of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius on a log on the ground. Lednice, South Moravia, March 2009.

Gallery: Rear View Of Black Woodpecker

This shot of a Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius was taken in northern Greece by Alexandros Gassios. It is hard to see the amount of red on the crown, but it seems that it is fairly extensive and erect thus this is probably a male bird.

Black Woodpecker: fresh feeding hole

New, fresh, feeding hole of Black Woodpecker Dryocopos martius. The oval shape, low location, large beak marks and size (a man's hand can fit inside) all indicated that this hole was created by this species.

Quiz woodpecker 29B

Here is another video clip by Dan Bastaja of the "pied" woodpecker shown in the clip below. Some responses have said it is a juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker. If that is so, which features rule out juvenile Syrian Woodpecker ?

Quiz woodpecker 29

Here is a video clip by Dan Bastaja of a "pied" woodpecker. Which species is it ?

Grey-headed Woodpecker: Assorted Feathers

Here are an assortment of feathers from Grey-headed Woopdecker Picus canus. The bird was found dead (seemingly predated by a bird of prey) in the Bükk Hills, Hungary, with many of its feathers plucked. Photographed by Szabolcs Kokay.

Video Clip: Great Spotted Woodpecker Male: Tongue

Here is a short clip of a male Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major at a nest-hole. Note the tongue movements. This was shot in Italy by Ventura Talamo.

Green Woodpecker Forgaing

A Green Woodpecker Picus viridis doing what they typically do, that is, foraging on the ground. Photo taken in Greece.

Video Clip: Black Woodpecker Female Foraging

Video clip of a female Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius hacking into a log in search of invertebrate prey. The solid downward hits with the bill and then sideways flicks to remove debris, are typical. Shot by Dan Bastaja at Naplas-to, Budapest, Hungary in December 2007.

Quiz woodpecker 28

Which species of European woodpecker is this?

Black Woodpecker Feeding Site on Dead Birch Tree

Fresh feeding site of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius on a rotten birch tree. Note the large patch of bark peeled away and large wood chips on the ground beneath. Photo taken in the Patvinsuo National Park, Karelia, Finland, July 2009.

Quiz woodpecker 27

Name this woodpecker species and the race concerned.

Gallery: Male Black Woodpecker

Male Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius. Photo by Alexandros Gassios, taken in Greece.

Gallery: Adult Male Syrian Woodpecker - 2

Another view of the adult male Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus posted below. Note the rather bright red undertail coverts. A "classic" Syrian would show more pinkish colouration here, though variation in colour is common. Photo by Alexandros Gassios, Greece.

Gallery: Adult Male Syrian Woodpecker

Adult male Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus. Photo by Alexandros Gassios, Greece.

Gallery: Adult Male Black Woodpecker

Adult male Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius, Csepel Island, Budapest, Hungary, June 2009 (Szabolcs Kokay).

Quiz woodpecker 26

So which European woodpecker is this ? And say why you think so...

Anvil - Great Spotted Woodpecker

Close-up of an "anvil" (aka "smithy" or "workshop") of a Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Two cones wedged into a broken tree stump. Near Tartu, Estonia, May 2009.

Quiz woodpecker 25

Can you name this woodpecker species ?

Great Spotted Woodpecker Anvil or Smithy

Cone wedged in the "anvil" or "smithy" of a Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. Jasov, Slovakia, March 2009.

White-backed Woodpecker Feeding Site

Very recent feeding site of White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. Such fine, shallow shaving on dead trees or stumps is typically done by this species in winter. Near Jasov, Slovakia, March 2009.

White-backed Woodpecker feathers

White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos wing feathers. Note: these feathers were taken from a bird that was found dead in the Zemplen Hills, Hungary. The bird had presumably been killed by a predator. 

Perched Syrian Woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus perched sideways on a thin branch. Note the lack of a black post-auricular stripe, pink ventral area and lack of white on the outer tail feathers. Photo taken in Tiszafured, Hungary, in April 2009 by Yvonne Simmonds.

Conifer Cone - Great Spotted Woodpecker

Conifer cone worked upon by Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major. The cone scales have a jagged, ruffled appearance as they have been prised open sideways so that the seeds inside can be taken out. This has caused the rough, ruffled appearance of the cone. Found at Jasov, Slovakia, March 2009.

Green Woodpecker: terrestrial

A Green Woodpecker Picus viridis in a typical pose, foraging on the ground. Though some other species, such as Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers, do feed on the ground Green Woodpecker is without question the specialist in this niche in Europe. Photo taken in Hungary by Phil Briggs.

Quiz woodpecker 24

Which species is this ? And age ? And sex ?

Black Woodpecker: fresh feeding site

Black Woodpeckers can make some impressive holes when hacking into timber in search of invertebrates. Note that such holes are not nesting cavities. The round hole (with human hand for size comparision) does to a certain extent resemble a cavity entrance, but it is too large and too low on the tree. Note also the resin/sap that has streamed down the trunk from the holes. Photo taken in March 2009 in the Slovak Karst National Park, Slovakia. 

Gallery: Lesser Spotted Woodpecker male

Male Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor. Photo of a bird caught for ringing by Josef Chytil, Czech Republic, March 2009.

Grey-headed Woodpecker and Waxwing

Here is an interesting photo of a male Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus seemingly observing a Bohemian Waxwing. Photo by Mike Crutch, Soutok, Czech Republic, March 2009. 

Holes in telegraph-poles

Some woodpeckers bore holes in telegraph poles. It is not clear why they do this as such poles are almost always devoid of invertebrate prey and seldom suitable as nesting-sites being exposed and often situated in busy places such as by roads. Perhaps woodpeckers simple "need" to excavate holes and in doing so in telegraph poles males advertise their presence and home-making skills to potential mates ? 

Grey-headed Woodpecker snapshot

Grey-headed Woodpecker Picus canus. Taken by Mike Crutch at Soutok, Czech Republic, March 2009. Though this bird was a male its red forecrown cannot be seen here.

Black Woodpecker: old feeding site

Photo of an old feeding site of Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius.Taken near Pavlov, Czech Republic. The adult man's hand provides a size comparison. Such long, slit-like holes are typically made by Black Woodpeckers when they are searching for tree-living carpenter ants in hollow trunks. 

Dead Middle Spotted Woodpecker

This unfortunate Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius was found dead on a road in Bulgaria. Note the long, sharp tongue.

Gallery: Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker in nest-box

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major almost ready to fledge. Photo taken in Finland by Jari Peltomäki.