The Great Spotted Woodpecker is by far, the most common woodpecker, slightly larger than a blackbird. The lesser spotted woodpecker, a bird the size of a sparrow is not seen this far North, being mainly confined to England and Wales.

Neither can be confused with the green woodpecker, a bird about the size of a stock dove, with a laughing call, undulating flight, and mostly its obvious greeny/ yellow plumage. 

The great spotted woodpecker is relatively common these days in woodland and suburban gardens. There is no doubt that the common use of peanut feeders has had a lot to do with both the expansion northwards, and greater density of breeding territories.

Peanuts’ being available mostly year round has made winter survival and summer breeding so much easier for this species. Their presence is noted either by seeing their direct but undulating flight, their raucous call, or their drumming on dead wood from March to May.

I recall that over 30 years ago this was a very rare bird indeed, lucky to see or hear one at all.