Page 259 - Complete Birds of Britain and Europe (DK - RSPB)

WOODPECKERS AND WRYNECK
Family Picidae
WOODPECKERS AND WRYNECK

OST WOODPECKERS are tied to tree habitats
Mbut accept a wide variety of species, age,
and size of tree: the Great Spotted Woodpecker
may feed in willow thickets in winter, but needs
bigger branches in which to nest. Others feed
on the ground: the Green Woodpecker, an
ant-eater, feeds on grassland much more than
in trees. Others, however, are more exacting
and require large amounts of dead wood, and
struggle to survive in modern forests with
CAMOUFLAGE
intensive management. Cryptic coloration makes the Wryneck difficult to see amongst branches,
There are two main groups in Europe: the but it is a beautiful bird if seen well.
green woodpeckers and the pied, or spotted,
woodpeckers. Green and Grey-headed Wood-
peckers are large, rather plainly patterned, with
loud, laughing calls. Spotted woodpeckers are
boldly barred and spotted with black and white
and have varying amounts of red.They have
short, sharp calls but also frequently “drum”
in spring, hammering their bills hard against
a resonant branch in a short, rapid drum-roll.

WRYNECK
The Wryneck is brown, barred, and streaked,
and unlike other woodpeckers in its posture
(it does not so often use its tail as a prop),
although its calls and general behaviour indicate
a close relationship. An ant-eating specialist, it
often feeds on the ground. It is a migrant.

FADED GREEN
The Green Woodpecker in
NUT-FEEDER
worn, faded late-summer
Great Spotted Woodpeckers wedge large
plumage, looks more brown
nuts and seeds into bark for easier feeding,
than green.
hammering them open with their bills.
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