So-called 'damage to trees' by woodpeckers

The term 'damage' is often used to describe the holes made by woodpeckers in trees. This term is something of a misnomer however, as it is almost always insects, especially wood-boring beetles, that 'damage' trees and ultimately it is they, together with fungi, that cause tree to rot and die. Woodpeckers hack into timber to prey upon such insects and in many cases are natural controllers of these pests, working on wood that is already infested and largely useless as timber. The standing dead tree in this photo has been beaten-up by woodpeckers in search of the insects which had first bored into and killed the tree. I have observed Black, Eurasian Green, Middle Spotted and Great Spotted Woodpeckers at this spot I regularly visit in the Buda Hills, Hungary. Gerard Gorman.   

White-backed Woodpecker - fresh feeding site

This photo shows a typical, diagnostic in Europe, feeding site of White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos. Birds mostly work like this in the autumn and winter, striping bark from standing dead or dying trees and stumps and then systematically working the area beneath before extracting wood-boring beetle larvae from their exposed burrows. Fine beak marks and wood-dust and powder are typical. Photo taken in the Bukk Hills, Hungary, in August 2013, by Gerard Gorman.

Another Quiz Woodpecker

It has been some time since my last quiz woodpecker post. And the last few were not hard. Now here is one that might be a little more difficult. So, species ? age ? sex ? Have a go !

Black Woodpecker feeding hole

The only woodpecker in Europe that makes holes such as this is Black Woodpecker Dryocopus martius. The large cavity (compare size to the man's hand), is at the base of a mountain beech in the Spanish Pyrenees. Black Woodpeckers often feed low down in this way. Photo: Gerard Gorman. 

Syrian Woodpecker close-up

Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus female. Taken in Bulgaria in June 2012 by Peter Basterfield.

Woodpeckers in Tracks and Signs Book

My new book POCKET GUIDE TO TRACKS AND SIGNS is due out this September. Published by New Holland, London. Although it covers mostly European mammals, as well as some insects, there are photos and information on birds including the signs that woodpeckers make. Check out the link about for more details. Gerard Gorman.

A Quiz Woodpecker

Here is another quiz woodpecker for you ? Which European species is this ?  I took this picture in Hungary, so there are five 'black-and-white' species to choose from.