With their striking patterns, great-spotted woodpeckers are quite easy to identify when you see them. However, they are often at the top of the larger trees and at Druridge they are usually well hidden in the foliage. You will hear their characteristic tapping sound from time to time, especially in the spring, and that may help locate them. In this example, it was their call that alerted me - a loud sharp 'tchik' slowly repeated. Ironically, they are quite common and very visible on garden feeders (they are very partial to peanuts!)

Male and female are very similar. The female has an all-over black top to her head. The male has a small red patch at the back of his head. Juveniles have a red patch at the top of their head. These two seem to be a pair of male and female adults.