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Oct 07th
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Green Woodpecker Print E-mail

Green Woodpecker
Green Woodpecker
The Green Woodpecker (Picus viridis) is the largest of the three woodpeckers that breed in Britain. You can usually hear it's loud 'kak, kak' call before you see it.  It has a heavy-looking body, short tail and a strong, long bill. It is greeny-grey on its upperparts with a bright green rump and red on the top of its head.

They have an undulating flight and skip around tree trunks and branches. They will often move around to be on the side away from anyone watching.

Sometimes they can be seen on the lawn (like this one in our garden) apparently 'eating' ants.  On closer inspection they can be seen to spread their wing feathers on an ants nest pecking at some of the ants crawling in its feathers.  It is thought that annoying the ants so they spray folic acid in a attempt to sting the woodpecker helps the bird rid itself of mites living in the feathers.
 
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