I recently observed a very tatty looking Great-Spotted Woodpecker in the garden and initially put it down to it being the nesting period and getting grubby through repeated visits to the nest itself.
However today I was able to grab this photograph which makes me have doubts about this.
I'm not sure if this isn't Oil or something similar ? It isn't localised to just the front or underbelly and generally looks dirty & grimy all over.
I've previously seen Woodpeckers before visiting nesting holes but none looked quite as disheveled as this individual.
The bird itself seems quite alert and doesn't give the impression of being obviously sick and flies quite normally.
Curious to see what others think as I'm hoping the bird will be Ok.
However today I was able to grab this photograph which makes me have doubts about this.
I'm not sure if this isn't Oil or something similar ? It isn't localised to just the front or underbelly and generally looks dirty & grimy all over.
I've previously seen Woodpeckers before visiting nesting holes but none looked quite as disheveled as this individual.
The bird itself seems quite alert and doesn't give the impression of being obviously sick and flies quite normally.
Curious to see what others think as I'm hoping the bird will be Ok.