The Green Woodpecker is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It's green on its upperparts with a paler belly, bright yellow rump and red on the top of its head. The black 'moustache' has a red centre in males.
What does a Green Woodpecker look like?
Length: 31cm.
This woodpecker can be distinguished by its green plumage, which is vivid on the upper parts and paler on the under parts. The crown is red and the rump is yellow. Its moustachial stripe is red in the male and black in the female. The youngsters are paler.
Their tail is short and they have a strong pointed bill. They climb up tree-trunks where they move in jerky hops, hunting for food, supported by their tail feathers, which are held down against the trunk. The Green Woodpecker will also feed off the ground. Their flight is very distinctive, with spells of undulating flight with folded wings alternating with every third or fourth wing beat.
This bird is not very sociable and lives alone, except during the breeding season. During courtship the male pursues the female around a tree trunk. When adopting a defensive attitude, the male sways its head from side to side, with its crest erect and its wings and tail spread. Unlike many other woodpeckers it only drums in spring.
What does a Green Woodpecker sound like?
The calls are a loud, ringing peal of laughter.
When and where do Green Woodpeckers nest?
Breeding starts from late April onwards. They nest in excavated holes in tree trunks and the entrance is usually elliptical. The female lays between five and seven oval white eggs per clutch. Incubation is carried out by both parents for eighteen to nineteen days. The young are reared by both parents and fed on regurgitated food
Green Woodpecker Nesting Habits
The Green Woodpecker has powerful beaks which they use to excavate holes in wood to build their nests.
Green Woodpecker Habitat
The Green Woodpecker is a wide-spread resident breeder in England and Wales, less frequent in Scotland. They require trees for nesting and open areas for catching food such as ants, therefore common to open areas close to woodland. These birds will also visit parks and gardens provided there are tress close by.
What do Green Woodpeckers eat?
Their diet is predominately ants and the larvae of insects which live under bark. They will also eat berries and other plants.
What should you feed green woodpeckers in the garden?
They are ‘ant’ specialists and are only attracted to ponds and bird baths. They will visit lawns if ant nests are present.
Where should you feed green woodpeckers?
Feeders – Not suitable
Table – Not suitable
Ground Feeder – Known to feed from the ground
How long do Green Woodpeckers live?
They can live up to 10 years, with the longest recorded lifespan being 15 years.
Where do Green Woodpeckers go in the winter?
Most Green Woodpeckers are all-year-round residents.
Where do Green Woodpeckers sleep?
Although they pair for life, they are quite an anti-social bird outside of breeding season and will spend most the year living alone. The pair will live separately but may roost near each other during winter but won’t come together again until March.
How to attract Green Woodpeckers to your garden?
It can be rare for a Green Woodpecker to visit a garden feeder but can be attracted by a freshly mown lawn.
