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Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗
Dendrocopos major
Great Spotted Woodpecker
An expanding Irish woodland resident, still much easier to find in some areas.
A recording has not been added yet. Use the identification notes below for now.
I know this bird · Record a sighting Where to look & how to find it ↓FIELDCRAFT · FIND WITH CARE
Finding guide
Choose the season, find the habitat, then watch patiently. Search guidance is not a measure of rarity or conservation status.
- When to go
- All year, but locally distributed
- Where to start
- Most readily found in eastern mature woodland; the range is expanding.
- What to do when you arrive
- In eastern mature woodland, listen for sharp calls and natural drumming, then scan trunks from paths. Do not seek nest holes or lure birds with tapping or playback.
Habitat and behaviour reference: BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · The practical steps are editorial advice based on the references, not live sightings.
Markers show approximate public destinations or visitor bases, not individuals, nests, rare plants or exact entrances. Follow the operator’s routes and signs for access.
Base map: Natural Earth · Public domain
Destination positions: © OpenStreetMap contributors · ODbL
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Glendalough · public woodland and lakeside paths
Operator or specialist guide
NPWS woodland advice recommends the area for Great Spotted Woodpecker; its public bird-walk guide names Jay, Dipper and Goosander. The marker is near the visitor centre, not a bird location.
Before you goPlan established woodland and lakeside routes from visitor facilities, checking closures and weather. Birds such as Goosander are wary: use binoculars and do not inspect tree holes, bridges or banks for nests.
Destination evidence & review date
Sources reviewed: · A review date is not a sighting date; recheck access before travelling.
How to identify it
Black-and-white with large white shoulder patches and red undertail. Males have a red nape; juveniles a red crown, which should not be mistaken for another species.
Habitat
Woodland, mature trees, wooded edges and gardens.
Behaviour
Searches trunks for insects, drums on wood and also eats seeds and nuts.
When to look
All year, but locally distributed
Where to look
Most readily found in eastern mature woodland; the range is expanding.
Reference photos do not show every sex, age, season or geographic form; use the identification notes too.
Further reading:BirdWatch Ireland ↗ · Wikipedia ↗
COMMUNITY SIGHTINGS
Recent encounters
No public sightings yet.
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