large body; large white patches on the wings (Poland; 2012-05-29)


Great Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopus major

Native Range: Eurasia

Notes: the largest of several similar Eurasian woodpecker species with large white patches on the wing; highly predatory on the chicks of other bird species, sometimes even drilling new holes to reach the nestlings of other cavity-dwelling species such as the Middle Spotted Woodpecker; its own young beg incessantly in the nest because they need not fear the other species (because this species is larger and hence more dominant).