Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major).

August 6, 2011 in Biopedia, Birds by PaulS

Male (red patch on back of neck).

Female (lacking red patch on neck).

About blackbird-sized and striking black-and-white. Its presence is often announced by its loud call or by its distinctive spring ‘drumming’ display. The male has a distinctive red patch on the back of the head and young birds have a red crown.

Look out for this bird all year round anywhere there is a woodland nearby. Mapperley Wood hide is a great place to see these birds during the winter months.