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The middle spotted woodpecker was interested in both fat balls and sunflower seeds

 

 

The middle spotted woodpecker was found breeding in Estonia for the first time about 15 years ago; this counts as the date when this bird with southern origins became an inhabitant here. Over these years the species has developed into a sparsely-numbered  nester – up to a few hundred pairs. They inhabit old parks and broadleaf forests. Among good observation locations the Pühajärve park, the park of Old Vastseliina castle, the Helme castle park, Räpina park, and Tartu Raadi cemetery can be mentioned.

 

The bright red crown of the middle spotted woodpecker catches attention first. The bird is quite modest in size, only very little bigger than our smallest, the lesser spotted woodpecker. Body length a little over twenty centimetres, and it has the same plumage the year round. The beak is small too, it doesn’t do for demolishing wood as its greater relations do, instead tree and bark cracks are picked over in search of food, and the quiet tapping is rarely heard. The male’s red head ornament reaches to the nape, but for the female ends at the top of the head – decide which one we have to do with.

 

As identification signs the white shoulder patches, the pink tail base and the black-white-streaked underparts can be mentioned. The species is only 2-3 centimetres shorter than the great spotted woodpecker with a similar plumage, but seems much smaller, particularly because of the beak size and the low brow. Quite well recognizable birds at a first meeting.

 

 

 

 

Additional middle spotted woodpecker images in the forum: LINK

 

Middle spotted woodpecker observations: LINK