This is a male showing a red nape patch. Three subspecies of this neat medium-sized woodpecker are found in Japan. This is japonicus which is resident in Hokkaido and characterized by longer bill, smaller white scapular patch, and more extensive white spotting on its wings. Genetic studies by Perktas & Quintero (2013) and Winkler et al. (2014) suggested that Japanese populations deserve elevation to phylogenetic species status called "Japanese Great Spotted Woodpecker." However this suggestion has not been widely adopted probably because the biological species concept is generally preferred.