Dryocopus martius

Interesting facts: The black woodpecker is the largest European woodpecker. It carves out its own tree hollow, preferably in copper beeches. Thus, it is an important hollow builder for many other animal species. The bird preferentially eats ants living in the wood, which it likes to expose over large areas. In winter, it also opens and loots anthills. Sometimes green and grey-headed woodpeckers join it while doing this. Beetles, like the bark beetle and horntail, are also on its menu.

Characteristics: Crow-sized woodpecker with unmistakable uniform black plumage; in the males, the entire head, in the female only the back of the head is fire-red; the beak and eyes are light grey in both species

Body length: Longer than 30 cm (longer than a blackbird)

Distribution: Large coniferous and mixed forests with old trees