VIDEO: How the greater spotted woodpecker settles down for night
Video recorded by Olle Koert
Photo Arne Ader
Translation Liis
Greater spotted woodpecker Suur-kirjurähn Dendrocopos major
In autumn Olle crafted a nest box for starlings (and added a web camera and illumination, as behoves a technology man). So that the new home would not stand empty he hung it up in a tree – good for some smaller passerine to come and find shelter in winter. Instead, a male greater spotted woodpecker took a liking to the new house. Of course he had to widen the 5 centimetre opening meant for starlings, to be able to get in, but now he spends the nights there – the winter is cold even in marine Saaremaa.
In the Estonian forests the greater spotted woodpecker is the most common woodpecker and the abundance in winter is estimated at up to 150 000 individuals. Without the camera we would not have been able to see how the woodpecker behaved as night guest.
To start with, the woodpecker does some home tidying. The serious part of the winter working day is done and turning oneself into a feather ball takes only little time. Beak under the wing, and so to sleep.
In autumn LK readers have seen how a great tit settled down for the night; the video was recorded by Marec Forsel in Raplamaa: LINK
Greater spotted woodpecker
We recognize the male of the greater spotted woodpecker from his red nape patch. In the video we only see a slightly lighter patch on the nape but in daylight the patch is red.
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