Wildlife

Wild Great Spotted Woodpecker Garden Welfare

Great spotted woodpeckers are increasingly visiting gardens. Understanding their needs helps provide appropriate habitat and supplementary food.

Key Facts

Great spotted woodpecker populations have increased significantly since the 1970s
They are attracted to garden feeders offering suet and peanuts
Males drum on resonant surfaces to establish territory from late winter
Woodpeckers excavate nest holes in dead and decaying wood
They sometimes access nest boxes of other species to predate chicks

Welfare Considerations

Great spotted woodpeckers visiting gardens benefit from supplementary feeding particularly in harsh winters when bark invertebrates are inaccessible. Maintaining dead wood features in gardens and parks provides foraging and nesting habitat. Protecting other garden bird nest boxes from woodpecker predation supports welfare of multiple species.

What You Can Do

Provide suet feeder and whole peanuts in feeders for woodpeckers
Retain dead wood features in gardens for foraging and nesting
Record woodpecker sightings through BTO Garden BirdWatch