Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Photo by johnrobinson

Description

Photo taken: Wyre Forest, Worcs, England

Identification

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor RANGE A widespread breeding bird from southern Britain, France and northern Spain east across Eurasia to the northern China, Sakhalin and northern Japan. To the north breeds over most of Fenno-Scandia and across Russia except the extreme north. Range extends south to the Pyrenees, southern Italy and Greece and also breeds in western and northern Turkey and the Caucasus. More isolated populations breed in scattered parts of central and southern Iberia, the Azores and northern Algeria. May breed on Sardinia but status unclear, former breeder on Sicily.

Resident but may be nomadic and sometimes eruptive in the north and east. Breeding range has contracted in some areas and especially scarce in Iberia and North Africa. Vagrants recorded on the Balearic Islands and Corsica.

HABITAT Found in many types of woodland and forest containing dead and dying trees but favours deciduous trees and orchards, sometimes parks and large gardens, and tends to avoid conifers. Feeds high in branches rather than on the trunk of the tree and can be very difficult to locate. The best time to look for this species is in early spring when the birds are calling and there are few leaves on the trees.

SUBSPECIES About ten races are recognised differing slightly in size and colour. Generally, birds with longer bills and wings and whiter plumage occur in the north and smaller birds with buffier underparts are found in the south but much intergradation occurs and there are few distinct boundaries between races.

Bird Song

<flashmp3>Dendrocopos minor (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program

External Links

Search for photos of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the gallery

View more images of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker in the gallery]