| Living Organisms / Animalia / Craniata / Aves / Piciformes / Picidae / Dendrocopus / Species |
| Dendrocopus major - Great spotted woodpecker (Click photographs/illustrations: full picture & further details) |
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Alternative Names (Synonyms) |
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(B162) |
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Names for newly-hatched |
-- |
Names for non-breeding males or other colour-phases |
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Species Author |
Gordon McLeod |
Species Editor |
Debra Bourne |
Major References |
B89,
B162,
B163,
B164,
B165,
B166 Aviculture
references: |
ORGANISATIONS |
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ELECTRONIC LIBRARY |
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TAXA Group (where information has been collated for an entire group on a modular basis) |
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Parent Group |
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Specific Needs Group referenced in Management Techniques |
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External Appearance (Morphology)
Measurement & Weight |
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| Length | Head to tail:
Wingspan: Winglength:
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| Adult weight | General | 70-100g. (B162) |
| Newly-hatched weight | -- | |
| Growth rate | -- | |
| Adult | Bill | Male | Short and thin; grey. (B162, B164, B165, B166) |
| Variations (If present) | -- | ||
| Eyes | Male | Red with black iris and pupil. (B162, B164, B165, B166) | |
| Variations (If present) | -- | ||
| Juvenile | Bill | Short and thin; grey. (B162, B164, B166) | |
| Eyes (Iris) | Black. (B162, B164, B166) | ||
| Adult | Male | Short; grey. (B162, B164, B166) |
| Variations (If present) | -- | |
| Juvenile | Short; grey. (B162, B164) | |
| Adult | Male |
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| Variations (If present) | Female:
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| Juvenile |
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Newly-hatched Characteristics |
| Altricial; helpless, naked, eyes closed. (B163, B166) |
Nest placement and structure |
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Egg clutches |
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| No. of Eggs | Average | 4-7 (B162, B163, B166) |
| Range | 3-8 (B162, B163) | |
| Egg description: | Smooth and glossy, elliptical, 27mm long; white. | |
| 10-13 days (B162, B163); 16 days (B166) |
| Synchronous (B163) |
| 20-24 days (B162); 18-24 days (B163); 18-21 days. (B166) |
Sexual Maturity |
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| Males | -- |
| Females | -- |
Feeding Behaviour |
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| Adults | Climbs through trees in search of prey. Can hang upside down. Bores holes in tree bark or rotten wood to reach prey underneath. May take eggs and nestlings of other birds. In winter, a crack or 'anvil' is found or made, and used to hold pine cones while seeds are extracted. Ring trees with a series of holes to get at sweet sap, returning periodically to drink (rare in UK). (B162, B163, B166) |
| Newly-hatched | Fed by parents. (B163) |
Parental Behaviour |
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| Nest-building | Hole excavated in tree by both birds. (B162, B163) |
| Incubation | By both parents, mainly by female. (B162, B163) |
| Newly-hatched | Fed by both parents. (B162, B163) |
| Juveniles | Remain with parents for about a week after fledging. (B162, B163) |
Social Behaviour |
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| Intra-specific |
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| Inter-specific | Eat eggs and nestlings of other species, notably Willow tit and other tit species. (B162, B163) |
Sexual Behaviour |
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Predation in Wild |
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(B166) |
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| Circadian | -- |
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Distribution and Movement (Migration etc.) |
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| Normal | Widespread throughout western Palearctic to
about 66şN, Iran, central and southern Siberia, Japan and south-east Asia. Britain: Resident; Wales, central and southern England widespread, Scotland and northern England less common. Ireland absent. Migration:
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| Occasional and Accidental | Iceland, Faeroes, Ireland. (B162) |
| Introduced | -- |
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Intraspecific variation |
Strong clinal variation, birds being larger in the
north with a short broad beak, and smaller in the south with a long slender beak.
(B162) |
Conservation Status |
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| Wild Population - (Importance) |
Currently increasing, following declines in last century. (--) |
| CITES listing | -- |
| Red-data book listing | -- |
| Threats | -- |
Captive Populations |
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