Britain three resident woodpeckers have different welfare challenges. Great spotted woodpeckers are thriving while green and lesser spotted woodpeckers face declining food resources and habitat loss.
Woodpecker welfare differs substantially between species. Great spotted woodpeckers in suburban gardens have abundant food from feeders and generally do well. Green woodpeckers with access to unimproved grassland with ants are in reasonable welfare, but pastoral agricultural improvement has reduced anthills across much of their range. Lesser spotted woodpeckers in mature woodland edge habitats face the most challenging welfare situation -- declining woodland insect populations, loss of dead wood habitat, and competition with great spotted woodpeckers all reduce their survival prospects.