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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dryobates minor

This tiny tree-tapper brings a burst of life to woodlands with its rapid drumming and acrobatic foraging skills.
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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a diminutive bird, measuring just 14-16 cm in length. Its plumage is primarily black and white, with distinctive barred wings and a white-spotted back. The male sports a bright red crown patch, setting it apart from the female.

Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller overall appearance. The bird's small size and patterned plumage help it blend seamlessly with tree bark, making it challenging to spot despite its striking colouration.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker looks most similar to the Great Spotted Woodpecker, although that species is much larger and has red feathers under its tail.

Size

Length

14cm to 16cm

Wingspan

25cm to 27cm

Weight

17g to 25g

Colours

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Red

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker can be found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

This species inhabits deciduous and mixed woodlands across Europe and parts of Asia. It prefers mature forests with a good supply of dead wood. In the UK, it's found primarily in England and Wales, favouring old oak and birch woodlands.

While generally non-migratory, some northern populations may move southward in harsh winters. The bird's range extends from Spain and the UK in the west to Japan in the east, with a patchy distribution in between.

February to April is the best time to find Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers in the United Kingdom as they are especially vocal and trees are not yet in leaf.

Elevation Range

Up to 2,000 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Boreal

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

  • Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
  • Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
  • This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

  • More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
  • How birds move around during different seasons
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Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:
  • Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
  • Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
  • Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
  • Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
  • Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

  • 0-20: Very Low
  • 21-40: Low
  • 41-60: Average
  • 61-80: High
  • 81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 85

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker displays remarkable agility, adeptly manoeuvring through trees and clinging vertically to trunks. Its undulating flight pattern and ability to navigate thin outer branches demonstrate exceptional aerial dexterity.

Strength 60

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

Despite its small size, this woodpecker possesses sufficient strength to excavate nesting cavities in hard wood and drill rapidly when foraging. However, its diminutive stature limits its overall strength compared to larger species.

Adaptability 75

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker shows good adaptability, inhabiting various woodland types across a wide geographic range. Its ability to supplement its insect diet with seeds and berries in winter further demonstrates its adaptiveness.

Aggressiveness 40

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

Generally solitary and non-confrontational, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker isn't particularly aggressive. It primarily exhibits territorial behaviour during breeding season, but this is relatively mild compared to more aggressive bird species.

Endurance 70

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The bird's ability to drum up to 10-15 times per second and its continuous foraging activities suggest good endurance. Its capacity to survive in various climates, including harsh winters in some regions, also indicates respectable stamina.

Diet

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker primarily feeds on insects, especially wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, and spiders. It uses its sharp, chisel-like beak to probe bark crevices and excavate small holes in search of prey. In winter, it may supplement its diet with seeds and berries.

Behaviour

This woodpecker exhibits a characteristic undulating flight pattern, alternating rapid wing beats with brief glides. It's often seen clinging vertically to tree trunks, using its stiff tail feathers for support while foraging.

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are generally solitary, only pairing up during the breeding season.

Vocalisation

The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker's call is a high-pitched 'kee-kee-kee' or 'pee-pee-pee', often repeated in quick succession.

Its drumming is rapid and brief, lasting about 1-1.5 seconds, and sounds like a soft, rolling 'brrrrrr'. This drumming is quieter but faster than that of larger woodpecker species.

Nesting & Breeding

Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically begins in April. Males attract females with drumming displays and calls. They excavate a new nesting cavity each year, usually in dead or decaying wood.

The female lays 4-6 glossy white eggs in the bare cavity. Both parents share incubation duties, which last about 11 days. Due to the shallow depth of the nesting holes, the eggs are particularly vulnerable to predation.

Chicks fledge after 18-21 days but may continue to be fed by their parents for several weeks afterward. By late summer, the young birds become independent and disperse to find their own territories.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern [1]

While listed as Least Concern globally, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker has experienced significant declines in parts of its range, particularly in the UK. Habitat loss and fragmentation pose the main threats.

Conservation efforts focus on preserving mature deciduous woodlands and maintaining dead wood in forests.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

2,180,000 - 4,700,000 mature individuals [2]

Global Population Trend

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Birdwatching Tips

  • Listen for their distinctive drumming sound, which is faster but softer than larger woodpecker species.
  • Look for movement high up in trees, especially on thin outer branches.
  • Search for fresh holes in dead wood, a sign of recent foraging activity.
  • In the UK, visit deciduous woodlands in early spring when trees are bare for better visibility.

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Little Woodpecker

Family:

Picidae

Average Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Predators

Main predators include sparrowhawks, cats, and martens. Eggs and nestlings are vulnerable to squirrels, woodpeckers, and some corvids.

Did You Know?

  1. The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in Europe.
  2. It can drill up to 10-15 times per second when drumming.
  3. Despite its small size, it can excavate nesting cavities in hard wood.

References

  1. 1 2

    website: BirdLife International. 2018. Dryobates minor. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T22681076A130037386.

    View source
  2. 3

    website, 2016: Tracewski et al.

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