Foraging holes made by Black Woodpecker

A series of vertical foraging holes made by Black Woodpecker Dryocopos martius when searching for beetle larvae. Note the exposed tunnels made by the beetles. Buda Hills, Hungary, November 2010.

Typical feeding stump of White-backed Woodpecker

Tree stump worked upon in typical fashion by White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. Zemplen Hills, Hungary, 2010.

Northern Flicker in the WP

On the 15th October 2010 Vincent Legrand and David Monticelli found this male Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus at High Fields, Corvo Island, Azores. This is probably the first record of this species for the Western Palearctic. Thank you to Vincent for use of his photo.

Gallery: Middle Spotted Woodpecker

Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius by Nigel Sprowell. October 2010, Bukk Hills, Hungary. 

Quiz woodpecker 37

Which European woodpecker is this ? And why ?

Gallery: a pair of Syrian Woodpeckers

A pair of Syrian Woodpeckers Dendrocopos syriacus. Photo taken in Hungary by Nigel Sprowell.

Recommended Reading: The Cult of the Green Bird

This fascinating little book THE CULT OF THE GREEN BIRD - The Mythology of the Green Woodpecker by Antony Clare Lees details the remarkable role that Green Woodpecker Picus viridis has had in history, fable and legend. The species has been, across its European range, regarded as a  weather-forecaster, an oracle, the leader of tribes and even a monarch. It's well worth a look! It is published by Scotforth Books, 2002.