Quick answer
Key facts about great spotted woodpecker — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Drumming communication
Rapid bill strikes on dead branches create territorial sound without exhausting the bird — louder than song in dense forest.
Shock absorption
Hyoid bone wraps around the skull; spongy bone and tight brain casing prevent injury despite pecking 20 times per second.
Nest excavation
Both sexes excavate nest holes in dead wood, providing cavities later used by tits, owls, and squirrels — ecosystem engineers.
Garden visits
Woodpeckers visit peanut feeders in winter and may drum on metal gutters — amplifying territory display annoyingly for homeowners.