Picus viridis
The European Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is a striking and unmistakable member of the woodpecker family, renowned for its vibrant plumage and distinctive calls. Measuring 30-36 cm in length with a wingspan of 40-44 cm and weighing 150-250 g, it is one of the largest woodpeckers in Europe. Its most notable features include a bright olive-green back and wings, a pale greyish-green underside, and a brilliant yellow-green rump, highly visible in undulating flight. The head is adorned with a ...
Found primarily in open deciduous or mixed woodlands, parks, orchards, and large gardens, particularly those with mature trees and accessible grassy areas. It thrives at low to mid-elevations across its range.
Feeds predominantly on ants, including their larvae and pupae, which it extracts from nests in soil or rotting wood. Occasionally supplements its diet with other insects, berries, or seeds, foraging almost exclusively on the ground.
A diurnal species, the European Green Woodpecker spends much of its day foraging on the ground, often probing anthills. It typically roosts within tree cavities or dense foliage during the night. Foraging involves meticulously digging into ant nests using its powerful bill and extracting ants wit...
The European Green Woodpecker boasts a wide and stable distribution across much of the Western Palearctic. Its breeding range encompasses almost all of mainland Europe, extending from southern Scandinavia and Great Britain south to the Iberian Peninsula, Italy, and the Balkan states, and eastward...
Least Concern
- The European Green Woodpecker's distinctive, loud call is often described as a 'yaffle' or 'laugh', earning it nicknames like 'laughing jack'. - Unlike most woodpeckers, it spends a significant amount of its foraging time on the ground, specifically targeting ant nests. - Its remarkably long, s...