Wildlife Conservation

Wild Great Spotted Woodpecker: Garden and Woodland

Great spotted woodpeckers have expanded into gardens and are now a familiar garden bird visitor. Their welfare depends on veteran trees, dead wood and supplementary food provision in winter.

Key Facts

Great spotted woodpecker populations have increased significantly and they now visit many UK gardens
They excavate nest holes in dead and dying trees, creating cavities used by many other species
Nest hole excavation and drumming are energetically demanding activities requiring sufficient food
Peanut feeders and fat balls attract great spotted woodpeckers to gardens in winter
Great spotted woodpeckers cache food in bark crevices for later recovery

Welfare Considerations

Great spotted woodpecker welfare in winter depends on food availability in gardens and woodland. Supporting garden woodpeckers with high-quality supplementary food during cold periods provides direct welfare benefits.

What You Can Do

Provide peanut feeders and suet blocks in gardens to support woodpecker welfare in winter
Retain standing dead wood in gardens and woodland to provide foraging and nesting habitat
Record great spotted woodpecker garden visits through BTO Garden BirdWatch