Its nearly 20 years since Great Spotted Woodpeckers colonised the island of Ireland as a breeding species. The birds were subsequently traced back to the British population from genetic feather analysis. This population had expanded north and west. The Isle of Man, Counties Down and Wicklow were subsequently colonised within a few years of each other. Since 2006, the Irish breeding population expanded west and south across the country, taking advantage of suitable woodland habitats which were readily available. The spread of the woodpecker is attributed to several factors, including the provision of supplementary bird feed in gardens and the availability of decaying wood to both feed and nest in.
Woodpecker Facts
Nesting
The nest hole is usually excavated in a suitable tree at a height of 3 to 5 meters. They will also use a specialised nesting box. After frequent displays of drumming birds in late winter and early spring, woodpeckers will lay up from 4 to 6 eggs from late April. The incubation period lasts up to 18 days with nestlings spending another 20 days in the increasingly noisy nest hole. Fledged young leave the nest from early June and may visit peanuts feeders with the adult birds. One brood is raised per year.
Habitat
Woodpeckers breed in broad leaved woodland and parkland. Frequent visitor to associated gardens, both after breeding and especially in winter.
Identification
Striking black and white plumage with the brightest carmine, red under tail patch. Males have a red patch on the back of the head/nape area and the young have a distinctive red forehead and crown. Females lack any red on the head area. They have a distinctive, sharp ‘kek’ call, useful to know as they can be quite shy and spend time up in the canopy of trees. The drumming display, a far carrying drum roll sound, is the result of the birds striking suitable timber 10 to 40 times a second!