Compared to continental Europe, Britain has relatively few woodpecker species. Of the three that breed here, the great spotted and green woodpeckers are both common and widespread, but the lesser spotted woodpecker is one of Britain’s fastest-declining bird species.
Identifying adult woodpeckers is usually straightforward, but juveniles can be trickier. All three species may be found in gardens, with the two black-and-white woodpeckers visiting feeders for fats and peanuts, while the green woodpecker is more likely to be seen foraging for ants or feeding on windfall apples.
A fourth species, the wryneck, once bred sporadically in southern England but is now only seen as a scarce passage migrant. It is occasionally reported in gardens, typically when spotted feeding on ants on a formal lawn.
The great spotted woodpecker is a medium-sized bird, roughly the size of a blackbird. It has striking black and white upperparts, with a large white oval patch on each side of its back. Its underparts are buff-coloured, with a bright red patch beneath its tail. In flight, distinctive black and white barring and spots can be seen on its wings.
Its face is mostly white, with a black crown and a bold black stripe running from its beak, extending to the nape and under the chin. Males can be identified by a red patch on the nape, which females lack.
Juveniles resemble adults, but their red under-tail is duller, and young males have a red cap.
Great spotted woodpeckers are known for their loud, abrupt calls and a distinctive squeaky, rattling alarm call. In spring, they can be heard drumming, a short burst of rapid, rhythmic tapping against tree trunks used to attract mates and defend territory. Males can drum up to 40 times per second, though 10 to 15 strikes per second is more typical.
They can be hard to spot in their natural woodland and forest habitats, often staying high among the upper branches. However, they frequently visit parks and gardens, where they will readily feed from bird feeders, using their tail for support as they cling.
Since the 1970s, the great spotted woodpecker population has surged by over 300%, likely due to an increase in dead wood caused by Dutch elm disease, creating more nesting opportunities, as well as the growing availability of food in gardens.
The great spotted woodpecker is the UK’s most common woodpecker, found across nearly the entire country. However, it remains very rare in Ireland.
The lesser spotted woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in Europe. About the size of a sparrow, it can appear slightly larger due to its relatively broad wings. Its black-and-white plumage resembles that of the great spotted woodpecker but is less distinct overall.
The upperparts are black with white bars on the wings and a white patch on the back, while the underparts are buff, lacking the red patch found under the tail of other woodpeckers. The head is black and white, with a black cheek patch. Males have a red cap and a black nape, while females have a buff cap and a black nape.
Juveniles resemble adult females, but young males have a red patch at the rear of the crown, and young females may have a few red spots.
The lesser spotted woodpecker’s call is a weak but high-pitched shrill, sometimes mistaken for a kestrel’s. Its drumming is softer and less abrupt than that of the great spotted woodpecker, often occurring twice in quick succession.
Th species prefers deciduous woodland, where it stays high in the treetops, favouring thinner branches. Look for it fluttering in the upper canopy or flying in a deeply undulating pattern over longer distances.
Much rarer than the great spotted woodpecker, the lesser spotted woodpecker is in serious decline. It is now mostly found in the southeast of England and is entirely absent from Ireland.
The green woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in the UK, about the size of a jay, and has very different colouring from the great and lesser spotted woodpeckers
Adults have vibrant green upperparts, a yellow rump, and paler green underparts. In flight, their wings reveal grey and white barring. The head is pale with a bright red cap and a black eye patch. A distinctive dark ‘moustache’ runs from the beak, which, in males, has a red centre.
Juveniles are duller in colour, with pale spots on their upperparts, dark grey spots on their underparts, and dark streaks on the cheeks.
Unlike other woodpeckers, green woodpeckers do not drum to communicate, though they may occasionally be heard drumming softly when excavating nest holes. Instead, they have a distinctive loud call and a longer, ‘laughing’ song, which makes them easy to identify even when out of sight.
Although often found in wooded areas, they are more commonly seen on the ground, hopping over grass in search of ants. They have a unique, low stance, resting on their tail with their head tilted upwards, but they can also be spotted clinging upright to trees or fence posts.
Since the 1970s, the green woodpecker population has doubled, but habitat loss and tree felling may now be causing a decline. Look out for them in forests, heathland, open spaces, parks, and gardens.
The wryneck is an unusual member of the woodpecker family, preferring to perch on branches rather than climb tree trunks. Unlike its relatives, it lacks the strong, stiff tail needed for support and has a weaker beak, so it nests in existing cavities rather than chiselling out its own. It mostly feeds on the ground, using its long tongue to lap up ants.
Its plumage provides excellent camouflage, mimicking tree bark with a mix of mottled and barred grey, brown, rufous, and black on its upperparts. The underparts are creamy white with brown, arrow-shaped markings, while the flanks are buff with darker streaks. Its tail is banded with dark grey and brown.
The head is pale grey with a dark stripe on the crown and another running through the eyes. The cheeks are yellowish with brown bars, the bill is brown, the eyes are hazel, and the legs and feet are light brown. Males and females look alike.
Juveniles resemble adults but have a less distinct eye stripe, a rufous-tinged beak, yellow eyes, and grey legs and feet.
The wryneck’s call is a series of repeated, harsh notes, similar to the lesser spotted woodpecker. Both sexes sing, though the male’s song is stronger, faster, and higher-pitched.
Once a common breeding bird across England and Wales, the wryneck’s population began to decline sharply in the 19th century. By the late 20th century, they had disappeared as a breeding species in both countries. A small number were found nesting in Scotland around this time, but these records became increasingly rare. Today, wrynecks no longer breed regularly anywhere in Britain, though occasional nesting attempts are still recorded in Scotland.
However, wrynecks can still be seen in Britain. As the only European woodpecker to undertake long-distance migration, small numbers pass through the UK on their journey between breeding grounds in Europe and wintering areas in Africa. They are more frequently spotted in autumn than in spring, with most sightings along the south and east coasts of England.