Dendrocopos major · Irish: Mórchnagaire Breac

A striking black, white and red drummer — Ireland's newest woodpecker.

Habitat: Mature woodland, parks and large gardens with trees. | Season: All year

Identification

• Bold black-and-white plumage; large white shoulder patches
• Red patch under the tail; males also show red on the nape

Behaviour

Announces territory with a rapid drumming roll rather than song. Only began naturally colonising Ireland around 2005 and continues to spread — Ireland has no other native breeding woodpecker.

Did you know?

The Great Spotted Woodpecker's skull has built-in shock absorption, cushioning its brain as it drums on wood many times a second without injury.

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