Nature Photographers Ltd

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopus minor - male. L 14-15cm. Unobtrusive and easily overlooked. Sexes are separable with care. Adult male has black back and wings with white barring. Underparts are grubby white with dark streaking. Face is white and nape is black; black stripe runs from bill, around ear coverts to sides of breast. Note white-flecked red crown. Adult female and Juvenile are similar but with black crown. Voice Territorial male utters raptor-like piping call in spring. Drumming is rapid but rather faint. Status Local resident of deciduous woodland and parkland; often associated with alders