Lesser-spotted Woodpecker

Above: Lesser-spotted Woodpecker
Below: Greater-spotted Woodpecker

Lesser-spotted woodpeckers are resident in the UK all year round but sadly they have declined in numbers and are becoming quite rare in many places. they are absent from west Wales, with just a few in east Wales. There are slightly more in the western counties of north west England, with probably the greatest numbers in Yorkshire. They are easiest to find in winter and early spring, probably from late February to early April being the best time. In summer they are usually high up in the canopy but in late winter and early spring they appear lower down and as spring approaches they are easier to find due to their drumming.

They are small woodpeckers not much bigger than a sparrow. They have a mostly black back with a white 'ladder' pattern of rough horizontal stripes which are closer together on the upper back and thin out as they get closer to the tail. The nape and face are creamy white, framed with black. The breast and belly are also creamy white with a little light, black streaking. Legs are dark grey and the beak is pale coloured. The male is adorned with a bright red crown, whilst the crown of the female is cream.

The great spotted woodpecker, shown below left for comparison, is a much larger bird with much larger white patches on the wings and a bright red vent in both sexes. The red on the head of the male great spotted woodpecker is also much smaller than the red crown of the male lesser-spotted woodpecker, being just a small patch at the back of the head. Watch out for juvenile great spotted woodpeckers that do have an extensive red crown, but these will also have the telltale red vent and large white wing patches to help differentiate them.

Where to go to photograph these birds is a tough one. They are not easy to find even at the best of times. They do occur at Potteric Car and Fairburn Ings in Yorkshire. West of the Pennines, they can be found at Moore Nature Reserve in Cheshire, where they can most often be found in the oaks, on your left, as you walk towards the feeding station. Probably your best chances are at Marbury Country Park. A male here is a fairly regular visitor to the trees just to the left of the screen hide over-looking Budworth Mere.

A number of visits to a suitable site may be necessary to get a glimpse and a few more might be needed before you can get a half decent shot. Once they are chipping away at a bit of dead tree, however, they can spend several minutes in the same place. So provided you don't disturb them and you're lucky enough with the light, you'll probably be able to get one or two not bad pictures.