Grey-headed Woodpecker

The Grey-headed Woodpecker has an extensive range across Eurasia, from Europe through Siberia to Japan and into montane Southeast Asia. It closely resembles the more familiar Green (Eurasian Green) Woodpecker in overall body plan and habits but differs clearly in head pattern, showing an overall grey head rather than a fully green-and-red one.

It tends to forage more within trees than the more ground-oriented Green Woodpecker, reflecting subtle ecological differences between the two closely related species.

Key features:

• Crown feathers are grey overall, with only a small red patch on the forecrown present in males
• Females lack red entirely, showing a plain grey crown
• Body feathers are olive-green above and greyish-green below, generally less vivid than the Green Woodpecker
• The black malar (mustache) stripe is narrower than in the Green Woodpecker

Compared to similar species: the (Eurasian) Green Woodpecker shows a much more extensive red crown in both sexes and a more vivid yellow-green rump, while the Grey-headed Woodpecker's red is restricted to a small forecrown patch in males only.

Males show a small red patch on the forecrown bordered by black, while females have a plain grey head lacking any red. Juveniles are duller overall with some barring on the underparts. A complete annual molt follows breeding.

This species has one of the broadest ranges of any Eurasian woodpecker, occurring in mixed and deciduous forest and forest edge from Europe through Siberia to Japan and into mountainous parts of Southeast Asia. It is largely resident, though some northern populations may make short-distance movements in harsh winters.

Grey-headed Woodpeckers forage more within trees than the ground-feeding Green Woodpecker, taking ants and other insects from bark and branches as well as occasionally from the ground. Their call is a distinctive descending, whinnying series of notes. They drum more frequently than the Green Woodpecker and nest in excavated tree cavities.