Black Woodpecker
Dryocopus martius
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Dryocopus martius
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Mass
~320 g
Habitat
Forests
Diet
Insects and invertebrates
How to recognize it
The Black Woodpecker stands out as a large, calm-looking forest dweller with an almost all-black body. In the male, the red cap on the head is the most memorable detail, and its overall presence feels steady and deliberate.
It is noisy through the year, with a voice that carries far. In the breeding season it also drums on trunks, but around the nest it can be surprisingly quiet.
It favors mature forests with tall trees, especially places with old, sick, or dead trunks. It feeds mainly on wood-dwelling insects, especially ants and beetles, and in cities it may show up in parks; in most of its range it stays year-round.
Quick Facts
Listen to the call
The Black Woodpecker stands out as a large, calm-looking forest dweller with an almost all-black body. In the male, the red cap on the head is the most memorable detail, and its overall presence feels steady and deliberate.
It is noisy through the year, with a voice that carries far. In the breeding season it also drums on trunks, but around the nest it can be surprisingly quiet.
It favors mature forests with tall trees, especially places with old, sick, or dead trunks. It feeds mainly on wood-dwelling insects, especially ants and beetles, and in cities it may show up in parks; in most of its range it stays year-round.
How to recognize it
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Dryocopus martius Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Black woodpecker Encyclopedia article