male	male female head European distribution adult on tree

Identification

The loud laughing call of the Green Woodpecker has earned it the country name of the 'Yaffle'. Without this unmissable and characteristic call this species might go largely unnoticed in many wooded areas despite its large size and handsome colours. The green upperparts, yellow rump and distinctive shape makes this an easy bird to identify. The crown is completely red in all plumages.

Habitat

Breeds and winters in mature woodland, parkland and heaths, feeding on nearby short grassland.

Behaviour

Woodpeckers have extremely long tongues which curl around inside their skull ready to be ejected like a snakes into any area where there may be food such as ants. The tongue itself is sticky, like fly paper, so picks up any ants it comes in contact with.

Migration

A resident species.

This information is taken from the BirdFile on the appropriate BirdGuides DVD-ROM. As well as video and sounds, our CD- and DVD-ROMs contain additional text on Voice, Sexing, Ageing, Food, Nests and Eggs and more.

For the purposes of our bird news services, Green Woodpecker is classed as Common: common species, including species that are certain or probable escapees from captivity when occurring in the British Isles. (Note that rarity levels are currently applied nationally and may not reflect local variations in abundance.)

Venus Pool, Shrops 29/08/2010	undisc. site, Norfolk 17/08/2010	undisc. site, Norfolk 17/08/2010	Lincoln, Lincs 10/08/2010	undisc. site, Norfolk 10/08/2010
undisc. site, Norfolk 08/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 07/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 07/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 07/08/2010	Venus Pool, Shrops 07/08/2010

 View all pictures of Green Woodpecker

Green Woodpecker breeds in the following countries (Bird News Extra subscribers will see population statistics and information on trends for each country):

Albania
Andorra
Armenia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Belarus
Belgium
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Britain
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lichtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Moldova
Netherlands
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Russia
Serbia and Montenegro
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Turkey
Ukraine

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