Great Spotted Woodpecker: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Clever Birds · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Its drumming is faster than any other woodpecker in its range: around 10-16 strikes per second, in one-second bursts.
2. Until the early 1900s, people thought drumming might be a call made with the voice. Only in 1943 was it proved to be purely mechanical.
3. Wiped out in Ireland in the seventeenth century, the great spotted woodpecker recolonised it naturally. First nest: County Down, 2007.
4. Young woodpeckers often wander 100-600 km from home, sometimes up to 3,000 km. Vagrants have reached Iceland and Hong Kong.
5. Hammering wood is tough on the head. The long outer layer of the upper bill soaks up much of the jolt, and slim nostrils keep wood chips out.

The quiz

1. How many strikes per second does its drumming reach?

• 1-2
• 10-16 (correct)
• 30-40
• 100

Its drumming reaches around 10-16 strikes per second.

2. In which year was drumming proved to be purely mechanical?

• 1843
• 1923
• 1943 (correct)
• 1963

It was proved purely mechanical in 1943.

3. Where in Ireland was the first nest found after the woodpecker's return?

• County Down (correct)
• County Cork
• County Kerry
• County Galway

The first nest was found in County Down in 2007.

4. How far do young woodpeckers sometimes wander?

• Up to 3 km
• Up to 30 km
• Up to 30,000 km
• Up to 3,000 km (correct)

Young woodpeckers sometimes wander up to 3,000 km.

5. What keeps wood chips out of a woodpecker's nose while it hammers?

• A third eyelid
• Narrow nostrils (correct)
• Thick eyebrows
• A bony visor

Its slim nostrils keep flying wood chips out.

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