nature

The Woodland Drummers

Great Spotted Woodpecker Photo: Gillian Day©

Wander through a woodland in late winter or early spring and you’re likely to hear bursts of rapid, resonant tapping echoing through the trees. This staccato sound is the work of a woodpecker on a mission. Each rattle sends a message to all the other woodpeckers that can hear it – this part of the forest belongs to me.

Whilst some birds sing to attract a mate and intimidate their neighbours, woodpeckers take a different approach. They hammer their beak against a tree trunk at incredibly high speeds – up to 40 strikes per second for the great spotted woodpecker. A study published last year showed that, contrary to popular belief, there is no cushioning effect in a woodpecker’s head and it is the small size of woodpeckers that protects their brain, as smaller animals can withstand higher deceleration.

Any musician will know that the quality of your instrument can make a big difference to your performance. The same is true for woodpeckers, so it’s important that they find the right ‘drum’. They usually look for something resonant, and often choose hard dead branches. Regular woodpecker watchers may have witnessed them moving from one dead branch to another, giving each a roll as if testing the sound quality. When a bird finds a branch it likes, it may come back to drum against it again and again. It’s not just trees that attract them – they’ll sometimes use man-made structures, including metal poles.

It may be that drumming is just part of the process woodpeckers use to identify each other, along with looks and calls. A recent study of middle-spotted woodpeckers (a species found in continental Europe) showed that they can distinguish between the call of their partner and that of a stranger. A useful skill when you have a territory to defend!

Where to see on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust’s reserves:

Great Spotted Woodpecker Photo: BobCoyle ©

There are three species of woodpecker that nest in Britain, but only one that you’re likely to hear drumming – the great spotted woodpecker. It’s our most common species, found in many woodlands and parks. Great spotted woodpeckers are glossy black and white birds with a splash of red beneath their tail – males also have a red patch on their nape. Their drumming is a short, explosive burst of strikes that last less than a second.

Find them at: Hollinhurst Wood, Adel Dam and Birch Wood nature reserves.

Lesser spotted woodpecker Photo: Risto Puranen ©

Lesser spotted woodpeckers, as the name implies, are smaller. But their name now takes on a more tragic meaning, as they’re also far less likely to be spotted – or heard. They’ve declined so dramatically that they’ve been lost from most of Britain. The drumming of a lesser spotted woodpecker is slightly slower than that of a great spotted, with the individual strikes more clearly heard.

Find them at: Stoneycliffe Wood and Potteric Carr nature reserves.

Green woodpecker Photo: Joshua Copping ©

Our final woodpecker is also our largest. The green woodpecker is a chunky bird with a moss green back and a bright red cap. They often forage on the floor, probing for ants with their long, sticky tongue. They rarely drum and when they do it’s hard to hear – a soft series of rapid taps. They prefer to display with their loud, laughing calls.

Find them at: Low Wood, Rothwell Country Park and Barlow Common nature reserves.

For more information on Yorkshire Wildlife Trust click here

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