Picus canus

Interesting facts: The grey-headed woodpecker is a ground woodpecker like its European “twin”, the green woodpecker. It immigrated to us from the East a long time ago. The species feeds on live ants on the ground (hence it being known as a ground woodpecker) and on insects that it finds behind the bark of trees. In winter, fruits and berries are also eaten. Grey-headed woodpeckers needed undisturbed woods with natural age structures for their sleeping and nesting cavities.

Characteristics: Plumage greenish-grey, back and tail olive-green, thin moustache; males red on the head, forehead and front crown, the female completely lacks the red; dark eyes; tail clearly wedge shaped at the end

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

Distribution: Deciduous and mixed forests, lowland forests, also orchards and parks