Lesser spotted woodpecker

Short Description

The lesser spotted woodpecker is comparatively small and compact with a small tail and short neck. As with most other woodpeckers, its plumage is patterned in black and white.

Male birds can be recognised from the black-bordered red crown.

Features

Lesser spotted woodpecker

Dryobates minor

males with red crown
underparts without red colouring

Rufe und Trommeln

Schubert und Conrads (CC BY-SA 3.0)

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Similar species

Middle spotted woodpecker

Dendrocoptes medius

The middle spotted woodpecker has a red marking on its underparts and no black stripe on its cheeks (moustachial stripe). The red colouring of its head extends down to the nape and has no black border at the side.

Great spotted woodpecker

Dendrocopos major

The great spotted woodpecker has a red marking on its underparts; the red colouring of its head is limited to the nape area.

In the city

In an urban environment, lesser spotted woodpeckers are mainly found in parks and gardens with old trees.

Fun Facts

In Germany and Berlin, the lesser spotted woodpecker is classified as near-threatened, i.e. its population numbers are dropping.
Lesser spotted woodpeckers can be seen in Germany all year round.
Endangerment level Germany: Warning list

Männchen (CC BY-SA 3.0) Martin Mecnarowski

Sources

Männchen, Zaltys, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendrocopos_minor_291108.jpg

Weibchen, T.Voekler, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendrocopos_minor_female_perching_on_a_branch.jpg

Männchen, Martin Mecnarowski, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Dendrocopos_minor_1_(Martin_Mecnarowski).jpg

Witt, K. & Steiof, K. (2013) Rote Liste und Liste der Brutvögel von Berlin, 3. version, 15.11.2013. : Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V. (eds.) Berliner Ornithologischer Bericht, volume 23, Berlin: Berliner Ornithologische Arbeitsgemeinschaft e.V., 1-23.

Page „Kleinspecht“. : Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Date of last revision: 20. 12.2015, 16:38 UTC. URL: https://de.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kleinspecht&oldid=149245283 (Accessed: 11.02.2016).

NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (2017) Vögel bestimmen: Spechte im Vergleich, URL: https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/aktionen-und-projekte/stunde-der-gartenvoegel/voegel-bestimmen/13776.html (Accessed: 07.04.2017).

NABU – Naturschutzbund Deutschland e.V. (2016) Rote Liste der Brutvögel Deutschlands. 5. version, published August 2016, URL: https://www.nabu.de/tiere-und-pflanzen/voegel/artenschutz/rote-listen/10221.html (Accessed: 07.04.2017).