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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker · Field Guide · Things With Wings

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Lesser Spotted Woodpecker

Dendrocopos minor

Not yet photographed by the community

Sparrow-sized, our smallest and most elusive woodpecker.

Species Profile

Red List (UK Birds of Conservation Concern)

Lifespan: 6–7 years in the wild
Size & Weight: 14–15 cm, wingspan 24–26 cm; 17–20 g
Habitat: Deciduous and mixed woodlands with dead or dying trees, particularly birch and alder, across lowland Britain.
UK Distribution: Resident across much of England and Wales, with populations more sparse in Scotland; year-round present but numbers fluctuate seasonally.
Diet: Primarily small insects and larvae extracted from bark and wood, including bark beetles, wood-boring beetle larvae, and small spiders; occasionally takes seeds.
Prey: Bark beetles, wood-boring insect larvae, small spiders, seeds
Predators: Eurasian sparrowhawks, Eurasian jays, and occasionally stoats; eggs and chicks vulnerable to corvids and woodpeckers.
Mating Season: April to June
Breeding: Clutch of 3–6 white eggs; incubation period 12–13 days; fledging at 18–21 days; typically one brood per year.
Behaviour: Highly acrobatic and restless, often seen clinging to thin branches and twigs whilst foraging. Males drum rapidly on dead wood to establish territories and attract mates. Generally solitary or in pairs, though may join mixed feeding flocks in winter.

Sources and editorial status

The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.

Profile generated 22 June 2026

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