The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor, is a small bird found across European and Asian ecosystems. It is the smallest woodpecker species in Britain. This bird often goes unnoticed due to its size and preference for foraging high in the canopy. Its distinctive calls and movements are a part of diverse woodland environments.
Key Identifying Features
The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is comparable in size to a sparrow, measuring approximately 6-7 inches long. Its plumage features a black and white pattern, with a straight, black bill. The male has a bright red crown, while the female’s crown is black and white without red.
Its underparts are white with dark streaking, and its wings exhibit white barring. In flight, this woodpecker displays a bouncing, undulating motion, particularly noticeable in open areas. Identifying them often relies on their vocalizations and drumming patterns, as they tend to remain high in the canopy.
The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker produces a loud drumming sound by pecking on tree trunks. This drumming is distinct from other woodpecker species. They also emit a series of short, sharp “pik” sounds as a call. These sounds are often the first indication of their presence.
Habitat, Diet, and Behavior
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers inhabit woodlands, parks, and sometimes well-wooded gardens. They prefer mature broadleaf forests, especially those rich in oak trees or containing dead wood. These birds are often found near lakes or rivers and in forest edges.
Their diet primarily consists of insects and their larvae. From autumn to spring, they hunt for wood-living insect larvae, often found in thin, dead branches of living trees. During the breeding season, surface-dwelling insects, such as aphids and various larval insects from foliage and bark, make up a larger portion of their diet.
Unlike larger woodpecker species that chisel into substantial tree trunks, the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker forages by gleaning insects from smaller branches and twigs. They use their sharp claws and strong toes to grip tree bark, moving agilely along branches and fluttering between them. While shy, they are often seen in pairs or small groups within forests.
Breeding and Conservation
Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers are monogamous, forming long-lasting pair bonds. Their breeding season commences early in the year, with courtship beginning in February. They nest high in trees, excavating cavities within tree trunks, often utilizing rotten wood.
The female lays 5-8 white eggs. Both parents share incubation, which lasts approximately 10-12 days. Chicks fledge from the nest around 18-21 days after hatching, though parents continue to feed them for an additional 1-2 weeks.
The conservation status of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker varies across its range. In some areas, such as England and Wales, declines have been observed since the 1980s, with reasons not fully understood. Factors like the loss of open woodland habitats, particularly mature, open deciduous woodland, are considered contributors. Competition with expanding Great Spotted Woodpecker populations has also been suggested as a factor.