Of all the birds which visit our gardens, the Great Spotted Woodpecker is arguably the most striking. It is a highly distinct species, with largely black and white plumage and a red patch under the tail, the male also has a red patch at the back of his head, while the female has a black nape. Younger birds have a red crown. This species is also fairly easy to identify in flight, with the motion being undulating and with the wings entirely folded back on the downward part of the undulation.

Video footage of Great Spotted Woodpeckers

Great Spotted Woodpecker nesting and breeding habits

The nest is in an excavated hole in a tree, which may be a rotting tree or sound, and usually at least two metres above the ground. Both sexes excavate the hole though no actual nest is built inside it. The female bird does most of the incubation, with both parents bringing food to the young. There is just one brood per year with a clutch size of between five and seven eggs.

Great Spotted Woodpecker history and population trends

The long term population trend has been one of rapid increase since the 1970s. In particular this was noticeable in England, with Dutch Elm Disease being a key reason initially as it provided a huge increase in dead and dying wood which, in turn, provided more food in the form of wood-boring insects. In addition, it is thought that the provision of more food put out in gardens has probably increased winter survival rates.

Behaviour traits of Great Spotted Woodpeckers

This is a very interesting species to observe and in a number of ways. When approached, and if on a trunk or branch, the bird will often move to the back so it cannot be seen – and repeatedly does so if the person follows its movement around. To extract seeds from pine cones, the bird will wedge the cone into a crevice on a tree in order to chisel out the seeds. Drumming on trees is perhaps the behaviour most associated with the species, with the sound being audible for up to 400 metres away. Watching the Great Spotted Woodpecker drumming, or indeed hammering its bill into a trunk to excavate a nesting hole or to get at wood-boring insects and their larvae, you’d think it would be highly damaging to the bird – if, hypothetically, a human tried it they would get instant concussion if the same level of force were used. But the species has evolved extraordinary shock-absorbing mechanisms within its skull to ensure its brain is unaffected by the impacts.

Great Spotted Woodpecker diet and food

The Great Spotted Woodpecker’s primary food is wood-boring insects, larvae, spider, seeds and nuts. In gardens, the species is relatively easily attracted by peanuts in mesh hanging feeders, suet blocks and suet balls in cages, and will even cling precariously onto hanging tube feeders to get at sunflower hearts.

What should I feed Great Spotted Woodpeckers?

We recommend the following products to help attract Great Spotted Woodpeckers to your garden.

Bird Food

Premium Peanuts
From £13.00
100%
(667 reviews)
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Premium Peanuts
From £13.00
100%
(667 reviews)
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Sunflower Hearts
From £11.80
100%
(1215 reviews)
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Sunflower Hearts
From £11.80
100%
(1215 reviews)
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Bird Fat Balls - 150 Net Free
£27.50
100%
(105 reviews)
Super Suet Fat Balls
From £12.50
100%
(1216 reviews)
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Super Suet Fat Balls
From £12.50
100%
(1216 reviews)
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Frequently Asked Questions

Do Great spotted woodpeckers eat peanuts?

Yes, Great spotted woodpeckers do eat peanuts, which is one of the best foods to attract them to gardens. The peanuts must be fed from a mesh feeder, which is ideally hung from a branch or from a feeding station.

What trees do woodpeckers go on?

Great spotted woodpeckers don't use a specific species of tree, but they do favour larger trees and especially those which are dead or have dead branches. This is because decaying wood holds wood-boring invertebrates, which are the Great spotted woodpeckers principle food – hence the word ‘woodpecker’.

What is the best time of day to see woodpeckers?

Woodpeckers are active throughout the day, though like most species of bird they are especially active first thing in the morning.

Do woodpeckers stay around all year?

Yes, Great spotted woodpeckers in the UK stay here all year and do not migrate.

What kind of bird feeder is best for woodpeckers?

If feeding peanuts or suet pellets, which can also be mixed together, then a mesh feeder is best for Great spotted woodpeckers. If feeding suet balls or blocks, then a suitable cage feeder is needed.