British woodpeckers: identification guide and calls

Learn to tell the difference between Britain's three resident woodpecker species, plus a special guest, with our quick guide to their appearance, sounds and behaviour.

How to identify

Female

As the name suggests, green woodpeckers are predominantly mossy green with darker upper parts and a yellowy green rump that's conspicuous when in flight. They have a striking red cap and black mask with a prominent 'moustache'. The wing feathers are also barred black and white. 

Male

Same colouration and patterning as the female, but with a red centre to the black moustache.

Juvenile

Youngsters have a more mottled appearance and lack the defined black facial markings.

Size

Our largest woodpecker. Wingspan up to 42cm across.

Best time to hear

Listen for their loud and strident laughing call, also known as a 'yaffle', often given when in flight. They tend to be most vocal in spring from late morning.

Where to find them

Can be found across much of England and Wales as well as parts of Scotland. Usually spotted feeding on the ground in grassy habitats where they probe for ants with their long tongues. Will sometimes visit garden lawns. 

Call

Green woodpecker call

Audio: Alexander Henderson / xeno-canto.org

How to identify

Female

Great spotted woodpeckers have crisply defined areas of black and white plumage, including barring of the wing feathers and a black line beneath the eye which runs from the beak to the nape of the neck. Look for the long white 'shoulder' patches to help distinguish from the lesser spotted woodpecker (below), as well as the bright red area beneath the tail.

You might also be able to identify at a distance by their characteristic undulating flight. They appear to almost bounce in the air, with short wing beats propelling them up and forward, followed by periods of controlled falling.

Male

Same colouration and patterning as the female, but with a red patch at the back of the head.

Juvenile

Youngsters have a full red cap and paler red patch beneath the tail. 

Size

Roughly the size of a thrush or starling and larger than the easily confused lesser spotted woodpecker. Wingspan up to 39cm across.

Best time to hear

These birds advertise breeding territories by drumming their beaks on trees. Listen for the sound echoing through woodland in early spring. They also produce sharp 'kik' calls, usually when alarmed and sometimes repeated in quick succession. 

Where to find them

Common and widespread across England, Wales and most of Scotland. Found in woodland and a frequent visitor to garden feeders.

Call and drumming

Great spotted woodpecker call

Audio: James Bradley / xeno-canto.org

Great spotted woodpecker drumming

Audio: Shaun Micklewright / xeno-canto.org

How to identify

Female

Lesser spotted woodpeckers share some of the black and white features of their larger cousin which can make them look similar at first glance. To tell them apart, look for barring all the way across the back rather than the 'shoulder' patches of the great spotted. They also lack the red area beneath the tail.  

Male

As the female but with a red crown.

Juvenile

Similar to females but with more of a dirty brown belly.

Size

Our smallest resident woodpecker, around the size of a sparrow or finch. Wingspan up to 27cm across.

Best time to hear

Listen for drumming in early spring. It is longer in duration but quieter than great spotted woodpeckers and sometimes broken into two parts. They also produce a soft 'kik' call.

Where to find them

Scarce and disappearing from much of their former range. Mostly found in mature woodland in the south east of England but with some small populations further north. Best looked for when feeding in the very tops of trees, especially in early spring before bud burst obscures the view.

Call and drumming

Lesser spotted woodpecker call

Audio: Ireneusz Oleksik / xeno-canto.org

Lesser spotted woodpecker drumming

Audio: Gerard Gorman / xeno-canto.org

How to identify

These birds are masters of camouflage. Look for mottled brown and grey patterning with barred, buff brown underparts and a dark line running from behind the head down the back. It's not uncommon for juvenile starlings to be mistaken for wrynecks, although they are more uniformly brown all over. 

Size

About the size of a sparrow. Wingspan up to 27cm across.

Best time to hear

You're unlikely to hear a wryneck in Britain. They are most vocal in spring when breeding on the continent; their call is a shrill, repeated 'quee-quee-quee-quee', with sometimes both males and females calling together.  

Where to find them

A rare visitor most often encountered during migration in September and October when birds from Scandinavia head to Africa for the winter, although some are also recorded in spring. Mostly spotted along the south and eastern coasts of England as well as Orkney, Shetland and the Scilly Isles. 

Call

Wryneck call

Audio: Karol Kustusch / xeno-canto.org