(Second picture moved and re-sized due to layout problems) |
(Photos of Female and in flight. Subspecies with reference) |
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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
L. 23-26 cm<br/> | L. 23-26 cm<br/> | ||
| − | Ws. 38-44 cm | + | Ws. 38-44 cm<br/> |
| − | |||
*Glossy black upper parts | *Glossy black upper parts | ||
*White on the sides of face and neck | *White on the sides of face and neck | ||
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*Greenish grey legs | *Greenish grey legs | ||
The male has a crimson spot on nape, which is missing on the female. Immatures also have no nape spot, but the crown is crimson. | The male has a crimson spot on nape, which is missing on the female. Immatures also have no nape spot, but the crown is crimson. | ||
| − | |||
====Similar Species==== | ====Similar Species==== | ||
[[Image:Great_Spotted_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile. Photo by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}}<br>Photographed: [[Hertfordshire]], [[England]]]] | [[Image:Great_Spotted_Woodpecker.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile. Photo by {{user|Andy+Bright|Andy Bright}}<br>Photographed: [[Hertfordshire]], [[England]]]] | ||
Similar to the the smaller [[Lesser Spotted Woodpecker]] | Similar to the the smaller [[Lesser Spotted Woodpecker]] | ||
| − | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | One of the most widespread and abundant of the spotted woodpeckers, breeds throughout [[Britain]], most of [[Scandinavia]] except the far north and the highest mountains, throughout [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]] (although scarce in southern [[Spain]]) to northern [[Greece]] and east to [[Kamchatka]], [[Sakhalin]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]] and [[China]]. Also breeds on the [[Canary Islands]], [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]] and [[Sicily]] and isolated populations in the [[Caucasus]] and in parts of southern [[Greece]] and northern [[Turkey]], in [[Morocco]] and northern parts of [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]]. Further east the southern limits of range are reached in north-east [[India]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Hainan]].<br/> | + | One of the most widespread and abundant of the spotted woodpeckers, '''breeds''' throughout [[Britain]], most of [[Scandinavia]] except the far north and the highest mountains, throughout [[Europe]] from [[Iberia]] (although scarce in southern [[Spain]]) to northern [[Greece]] and east to [[Kamchatka]], [[Sakhalin]], [[Japan]], [[Korea]] and [[China]]. Also breeds on the [[Canary Islands]], [[Corsica]], [[Sardinia]] and [[Sicily]] and isolated populations in the [[Caucasus]] and in parts of southern [[Greece]] and northern [[Turkey]], in [[Morocco]] and northern parts of [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]]. Further east the southern limits of range are reached in north-east [[India]], [[Vietnam]] and [[Hainan]].<br/> |
| − | Resident throughout range but may be irruptive in the north. <br/> | + | '''Resident''' throughout range but may be irruptive in the north. <br/> |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | '''Vagrants''' recorded in [[Iceland]], the [[Faroes]] and [[Ireland]]. | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 2988.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Female<br />Photo by {{user|canonman77|canonman77}}<br />[[Potteric Carr Nature Reserve]], South [[Yorkshire]], [[UK]], May 2009]] | ||
==Taxonomy== | ==Taxonomy== | ||
About 14 races are recognised differing slightly in overall size, bill size and colour of underparts. However there is much intergradation in mainland races and also variation within races. Typically northern races are larger with shorter, stouter bills and whiter underparts. North African races ''mauritanus'' and ''numidus'' are cream below with a bold chest band, black at the sides and red in the centre. Two Canarian races, ''canariensis'' from Tenerife, creamy-buff below and ''thanneri'' from Gran Canaria more greyish. | About 14 races are recognised differing slightly in overall size, bill size and colour of underparts. However there is much intergradation in mainland races and also variation within races. Typically northern races are larger with shorter, stouter bills and whiter underparts. North African races ''mauritanus'' and ''numidus'' are cream below with a bold chest band, black at the sides and red in the centre. Two Canarian races, ''canariensis'' from Tenerife, creamy-buff below and ''thanneri'' from Gran Canaria more greyish. | ||
| + | [[Image:IMG 8199ao.JPG|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|IanF|IanF}}<br />[[Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park]], Billingham, Cleveland, [[UK]]]] | ||
| + | ====Subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>==== | ||
| + | *''D. m. major'': | ||
| + | :*[[Scandinavia]] and western [[Siberia]] to Ural Mountains, northern [[Poland]] and northern [[Ukraine]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. pinetorum'': | ||
| + | :*[[Britain]], [[France]] and central [[Europe]] to [[Italy]], Balkans, [[Turkey]], [[Caucasus]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. harterti'': | ||
| + | :*[[Sardinia]] and [[Corsica]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. hispanus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Iberian Peninsula]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. canariensis'': | ||
| + | :*[[Tenerife]] ([[Canary Islands]]) | ||
| + | *''D. m. thanneri'': | ||
| + | :*[[Gran Canaria]] Island ([[Canary Islands]]) | ||
| + | *''D. m. mauritanus'': | ||
| + | :*[[Morocco]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. numidus'': | ||
| + | :*Northern [[Algeria]] and [[Tunisia]] | ||
| + | *''D. m.r poelzami'': | ||
| + | :*[[Transcaucasia]] and southern [[Caspian]] region | ||
| + | *''D. m. brevirostris'': | ||
| + | :*Western [[Siberia]] to lower Amur River, Manchuria and [[Mongolia]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. kamtschaticus'': | ||
| + | :*Kamchatka Peninsula and northern coast of Sea of Okhotsk | ||
| + | *''D. m. japonicus'': | ||
| + | :*Eastern Manchuria, Sakhalin, Kuril Islands, [[Korea]] and northern [[Japan]] | ||
| + | *''D. m. cabanisi'': | ||
| + | :*Southern Manchuria to south-eastern [[China]], eastern [[Burma]] and [[Indochina]]; Hainan | ||
| + | *''D. m. stresemanni'': | ||
| + | :*Western [[China]] to [[Burma]], south-eastern [[Tibet]] and north-eastern [[India]] | ||
==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
Deciduous, coniferous or preferably mixed woodland and forest, parks and orchards, sometimes, especially in winter, in large gardens. | Deciduous, coniferous or preferably mixed woodland and forest, parks and orchards, sometimes, especially in winter, in large gardens. | ||
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<flashmp3>Dendrocopos major (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | <flashmp3>Dendrocopos major (song).mp3</flashmp3><br /> | ||
''[[Media:Dendrocopos major (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ''[[Media:Dendrocopos major (song).mp3|Listen in an external program]]'' | ||
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec08}} | ||
| + | {{ref}} | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Dendrocopos+major}} | {{GSearch|Dendrocopos+major}} | ||
Revision as of 11:30, 31 May 2009
- Dendrocopos major
Identification
L. 23-26 cm
Ws. 38-44 cm
- Glossy black upper parts
- White on the sides of face and neck
- Large white shoulder patch
- Barred black and white flight feathers
- Three outer tail feathers barred
- Buffish white under parts
- Crimson abdomen and undertail coverts
- Slate black bill
- Greenish grey legs
The male has a crimson spot on nape, which is missing on the female. Immatures also have no nape spot, but the crown is crimson.
Similar Species
Similar to the the smaller Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Distribution
One of the most widespread and abundant of the spotted woodpeckers, breeds throughout Britain, most of Scandinavia except the far north and the highest mountains, throughout Europe from Iberia (although scarce in southern Spain) to northern Greece and east to Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Japan, Korea and China. Also breeds on the Canary Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily and isolated populations in the Caucasus and in parts of southern Greece and northern Turkey, in Morocco and northern parts of Algeria and Tunisia. Further east the southern limits of range are reached in north-east India, Vietnam and Hainan.
Resident throughout range but may be irruptive in the north.
Vagrants recorded in Iceland, the Faroes and Ireland.
Taxonomy
About 14 races are recognised differing slightly in overall size, bill size and colour of underparts. However there is much intergradation in mainland races and also variation within races. Typically northern races are larger with shorter, stouter bills and whiter underparts. North African races mauritanus and numidus are cream below with a bold chest band, black at the sides and red in the centre. Two Canarian races, canariensis from Tenerife, creamy-buff below and thanneri from Gran Canaria more greyish.
Subspecies[1]
- D. m. major:
- Scandinavia and western Siberia to Ural Mountains, northern Poland and northern Ukraine
- D. m. pinetorum:
- D. m. harterti:
- D. m. hispanus:
- D. m. canariensis:
- D. m. thanneri:
- Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands)
- D. m. mauritanus:
- D. m. numidus:
- D. m.r poelzami:
- Transcaucasia and southern Caspian region
- D. m. brevirostris:
- D. m. kamtschaticus:
- Kamchatka Peninsula and northern coast of Sea of Okhotsk
- D. m. japonicus:
- D. m. cabanisi:
- D. m. stresemanni:
Habitat
Deciduous, coniferous or preferably mixed woodland and forest, parks and orchards, sometimes, especially in winter, in large gardens.
Behaviour
The drumming sound is made by the male, using a dead dry tree that generates a good volume, to attract a female. The sound can travel over hundreds of metres in favourable conditions. Feeding uses a much less rapid pecking action and the quieter sound generated can only be heard at close quarters.
Diet
Although the diet usually consists of insects and their larvae, woodpeckers are not averse to preying on young birds in the nest and will smash their way into nest boxes to do this. In areas where woodpeckers are known to be active, a protective sheet of metal may be fitted to the entrance of the box.
Vocalisation
<flashmp3>Dendrocopos major (song).mp3</flashmp3>
Listen in an external program
References
- Clements, JF. 2008. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2008. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
Recommended Citation
- BirdForum Opus contributors. (2025) Great Spotted Woodpecker. In: BirdForum, the forum for wild birds and birding. Retrieved 19 May 2025 from https://www.birdforum.net/opus/Great_Spotted_Woodpecker
External Links
