The Wildlife of
Wallington

 
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Woodpeckers - The Great-spotted Woodpecker

First seen on Wednesday 17th July 2019 at Wallington

With their striking colours, great-spotted woodpeckers are quite easy to identify when you see them. However, they are often at the top of the larger trees on the estate and in the summer can be well hidden in the foliage. You will hear their characteristic tapping sound from time to time and that may help locate it. As usual, the easy way of course is to look on the bird 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 - this one is obviously a juvenile.


 

The one below has the red patch at the back of its neck, so is a male...


 

Although it doesn't show here - this one was actually a female, with no red on her head at all.