European Green Woodpecker
Also known as Picus viridis, Green Woodpecker
species of bird
AI overview
The European Green Woodpecker is a woodpecker species found across Europe that uses its strong beak to peck into trees and wood. It matters because it plays an ecological role in its forest habitats and serves as an indicator of woodland health for conservation efforts.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
Least ConcernEurasian Green Woodpecker
species
Observations35,645
via IUCN
Wikidata facts
- Mass
- 193
- Image
- Grünspecht Picus viridis.jpg
Show 8 more facts
- taxon name
- Picus viridis
- Commons category
- Picus viridis
- Commons gallery
- Picus viridis
- taxon common name
- peto-real-europeu
- wingspan
- 41
- litter size
~9 min read
Article
European green woodpecker (Switzerland) eating The European green woodpecker (Picus viridis), also known as the yaffle and sometimes called a nickle, is a large green woodpecker with a bright red crown and a black moustache. Males have a red centre to the moustache stripe which is absent in females. It is resident across much of Europe and the western Palearctic but in Spain and Portugal it is replaced by the similar Iberian green woodpecker (Picus sharpei).
The European green woodpecker spends much of its time feeding on ants on the ground and does not often 'drum' on trees like other woodpecker species. Though its vivid green and red plumage is particularly striking, it is a shy bird, and is more often heard than seen, drawing attention with its loud calls. A nest hole is excavated in a tree; four to six eggs are laid which hatch after 19–20 days.