A medium-sized woodpecker: black, white, and buff, with splashes of red. Easily located by its loud drumming from late winter onwards and by its frequent sharp call at all times.

By far the most common and familiar of the ‘spotted’ woodpeckers in Europe, this is the yardstick by which to compare others. It is a splendid bird: a wonderful splash of colour on a bird table, or in the leafy green of a summer forest. It is equally at home in coniferous or broadleaved woodland, or even in low willow carr.