2015 Bonanza Bird #5: Great Spotted Woodpecker

December 5, 2015 in Birdorable Bonanza 2015, Woodpeckers and New Birds with 3 comments

Today our Birdorable Bonanza: 2015 Advent Edition continues with a fairly common Old World woodpecker species: the Great Spotted Woodpecker!

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is found across Europe and northern Asia. This is a resident (non-migratory) species for the most part, though birds in the coldest areas may move seasonally.

Though common across most of their range, this mid-sized woodpecker tends to be quite inconspicuous, spending most of its time well-hidden in tree foliage. They are often heard -- either drumming (tree-pecking) or calling (vocalizing) before they are seen.

Great Spotted Woodpeckers have a varied diet. The will feed on insects foraged from crevices in bark. They also eat plant material like seeds and fruit. Eggs, young chicks and even small rodents are also common food items for Great Spotted Woodpeckers.

Adult male Great Spotted Woodpecker by Tom Lee (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Great Spotted Woodpecker Portrait by Andy Morffew (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Adult female and juvenile male great spotted woodpeckers by Dave_S. (CC BY 2.0)

The Great Spotted Woodpecker is our 621st Birdorable bird and our 10th cute woodpecker species.

Our Bonanza continues tomorrow with a very large Australian bird of prey. Can you guess tomorrow's species?

Comments

???c????? ????? (White-throated Sparrow) on December 5, 2015 at 10:00 AM wrote:

Again, I was right! :D Maybe the mystery bird is the wedge-tailed eagle (did some researching)...

Louise Warner on February 21, 2017 at 4:14 PM wrote:

wedge tail...

Spurwing Plover on May 30, 2022 at 6:13 PM wrote:

Also called Eagle' Hawk

Comments with links or HTML will be deleted. Your comment will be published pending approval.

Your name (required)

Your email address (required)

Your email address will not be published

Comment (required)

I agree to receive updates and news from Birdorable

You can unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For more information on how to unsubscribe, our privacy practices, and how we are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy, please review our Privacy Policy. By clicking submit below, you consent to allow Birdorable to store and process the personal information submitted above to provide you the content requested.

2013 Bonanza Bird #3

Meet the European Crested Tit: A Distinctive and Charming Songbird

July 3, 2013

Today, as part of our Birdorable Bonanza 2013, we are excited to introduce a delightful small European species to our collection. Our third Bonanza bird, known for its distinctive appearance, is the Crested Tit. The Crested Tit, a member of the tit...

2023 Bonanza Bird #2

Exploring the Charms of the Bokmakierie: Southern Africa's Singing Bush-Shrike

November 28, 2023

Today a striking bird from southern Africa joins Birdorable. It's the Bokmakierie! The Bokmakierie is a vibrant and charismatic bird that's as interesting as it is melodious. Native to Southern Africa, the Bokmakierie is a bush-shrike, known for its striking yellow and green plumage and a loud, melodious call. The...

Martha Week: Project Passenger Pigeon

August 27, 2014

Monday, September 1st will mark the 100 year anniversary of the death of Martha, the last of her species, the Passenger Pigeon. With her death our planet lost another species forever to extinction. This week we'd like to share some of the commemorative events and educational opportunities...

Happy International Vulture Awareness Day

September 5, 2015

Today is International Vulture Awareness day! Zoos, conservation organizations and other groups around the world are celebrating vultures this weekend. Vultures serve a very important role in the world's ecosystem. By removing dead animal remains these scavenging birds clean up the environment and help prevent diseases from spreading. Unfortunately,...

Birdorable Blog