Green Woodpecker
A bit of a surprise on a grey and merky day in our garden.
Not my best photos, rushed a bit, but this jolly fellow seemed happy trotting around looking for food, ants, I suspect.
Where do green woodpeckers live?
Green woodpeckers are found throughout England and Wales. They are absent from the north of Scotland and the whole of Ireland. The species requires trees for nesting, but open ground for catching ants. Open areas close to woodland are ideal green-woodpecker habitat. The birds will also visit parks and gardens provided there are trees nearby.
Signs and spotting tips
The green woodpecker has a distinctive ‘laughing’ call that is a clear giveaway of its presence. Look out for its bright yellow rump flashing as it darts through the sky. Your best chance of a prolonged view is to watch a woodpecker as it hunts for ants on the ground. Be careful not to get too close, however, as these are shy birds that will flee at the first hint of danger. Green woodpeckers rarely drum on trees like other woodpecker species.
Quick facts
Common name: green woodpecker
Scientific name: Picus viridis
Family: Picidae (woodpeckers)
Habitat: woodland, grassland, parks and gardens
Diet: ants and other invertebrates
Predators: birds of prey
Origin: native
