Identification
A greenish woodpecker with a grey head and relatively restrained dark facial markings. Males show a red forehead; females lack that patch.
When to look
Mainly non-migratory, with some local movement after breeding. Habitat quality determines where it can persist.
Where to look
Open mature woodland, floodplain forest, parks and orchards can be suitable. Old deciduous trees and nearby feeding ground are important.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
Ants and their brood are particularly important, alongside other invertebrates and some seasonal plant foods.
Breeding and life cycle
The nest cavity is excavated in suitable soft or decaying wood. Removing all ageing trees can remove nesting opportunities.
A closer look
Its ecological needs extend beyond a single nest tree: feeding areas and a supply of suitable future cavity trees also matter.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Compare head pattern carefully with other green woodpeckers. Listen from paths, preserve dead wood and avoid playback near breeding birds.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.