Black Woodpecker

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Black Woodpecker in the UK

The Black Woodpecker has no accepted British record and is not on the British List. Many claims were made from the late 1700s into the 20th century, and every one was judged not proven. Some turned out to be misidentified Great Spotted Woodpeckers. Others involved imported skins or birds released from cages. It is a resident forest bird that avoids crossing open sea, which is why it has not reached Britain despite breeding widely on the near Continent. A proven wild bird here would be a first for Britain.

Where the Black Woodpecker lives

You cannot see one in Britain. The nearest birds are in large forests across the Channel and North Sea, from France and the Low Countries east through Germany, Poland and Scandinavia. Look in mature beech or pine with big old trunks. Late winter to April is best, when pairs call and drum from first light. Later in the year they are quieter and range widely. Any claim in the UK would need photographs or a sound recording to be taken seriously.

Habitat, diet and field notes

Habitat: Old beech and pine forest.
Diet: Carpenter ants, larvae.
Field note: Wild "kleeer" yelping calls.

How to identify a Black Woodpecker

Crow-sized and by far the largest woodpecker in Europe. All black, with a pale ivory bill and a pale eye. The male has a full red crown. The female has red only on the back of the head. Long neck, long stiff tail. Flight is direct and slightly floppy, more like a Jay than the deep bounding flight of other woodpeckers. It clings upright to trunks and digs large oval or rectangular holes, often low down, to reach ants inside the tree.

Call and song

Loud and far-carrying. In flight, a rolling 'krruk-krruk-krruk'. Perched, a long clear 'kleee-ah' that drops in pitch. The spring song is a ringing series of 'kwee' notes, like a deeper, slower Green Woodpecker. The drum is a loud, long roll.

Confusion species

• Carrion Crow: A crow is the same size and colour but has a dark bill, no red on the head and does not cling upright to tree trunks.
• Green Woodpecker: Britain's largest woodpecker has a red crown and a loud laughing call, but it is green with a yellow rump and smaller.
• Great Spotted Woodpecker: Great Spotted can look black in poor light but is Blackbird-sized with big white shoulder patches and red under the tail.

Related guide Rare birds in the UK.

Conservation status and Birdedex points

In the Birdedex the Black Woodpecker is an Epic tier bird, worth +20 points when you log one. It is on our list as a European species. It is not on the British List.

Recent UK sightings

Similar birds

• Scottish CrossbillEpic · Caledonian pine forest
• CapercaillieRare · Scottish pine forest
• Continental Coal TitRare · Pine forest
• Crested TitUncommon · Caledonian pine forest
• Parrot CrossbillRare · Pine forest (very rare)
• Tengmalm's OwlLegendary · Pine forest (very rare)

Black Woodpecker: quick answers

Has a Black Woodpecker ever been seen in the UK?

Not officially. There are many old claims, but none has been accepted and the species is not on the British List. Modern reports usually turn out to be crows or one of the three British woodpeckers seen briefly or in poor light.

What habitat does a Black Woodpecker live in?

Large areas of mature forest, whether beech, pine, spruce or mixed. It needs big trunks for nest holes and plenty of dead or ant-infested timber for feeding. Its old nest holes are later used by other hole-nesting birds and mammals.

What does a Black Woodpecker eat?

Mostly ants, especially carpenter ants, and the larvae of wood-boring beetles. It chisels deep into trunks and stumps to reach them, leaving large holes and piles of big wood chips that show a bird is in the area.

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