IDENTITY RECORD

Middle spotted woodpecker

SCIENTIFIC NAME

Dendrocopos medius

DescrIption

A medium-sized woodpecker, I measure around 22 cm long and have a wingspan of around 34 cm. I weigh between 50 and 80 g. You can tell me apart easily from my cousin, the great spotted woodpecker, by my red crown and lack of black moustachial stripe.

Behavior

Diet

I eat mainly insects, as well as hornbeam seeds, beechnuts and acorns.

Reproduction

I build my nest hole in a tree cavity and lay about four or five eggs that hatch a couple of weeks later.

Lifespan

I live for around eight years.

Did you know ?

I excavate my nest hole in decaying tree trunks. I prefer to build them in old oaks where fungi is growing that I can excavate easily into.

Where and when can you find me in the reserve ?

Habitat

I live in leafy woods and forests where I can find old trees to dig out my nest hole.

When to spot me

You can see me all year round, but I am most easily spotted in February when you can hear my distinctive repeated “kek” call.

Conservation status

• Red list of nesting birds in metropolitan France: Least Concern (LC).
• Red list of endangered nesting birds in Alsace: Least Concern (LC).
• Protected in France