Scientific name: Dendrocopos major (Linnaeus, 1758)
Bird group: Woodpeckers
Field characters. 23 cm. Black-and-white woodpecker, much smaller than Green Woodpecker. Head with small white forehead, black cap, and black moustachial stripe to grey bill. Black moustachial stripe connects bill to black neck. Male has red nape. Back black with large white shoulder patches, wings with white spots, vent and undertail coverts red, remainder of underparts white. Black tail with white sides. Juvenile of both sexes has red instead of black cap. Flight undulating.
Voice. Most common call a single, loud 'kik' or 'keek'; when disturbed repeated 'keek-keek-keek'. Drums often (~ 0.6 s).
Distribution. Common resident.
Habitat. Pine and deciduous woodlands, open wooded areas, parks, etc.
Food. Insects, larvae and other invertebrates, but often takes conifer seeds, especially in winter, and fruits. Seldomly feeds on the ground.