The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a small woodpecker with predominantly black-and-white plumage, featuring streaks and speckles. The male has a red patch on the top of its head, while the female lacks this feature. It feeds mainly on insects, which it finds by pecking at tree bark with its sturdy beak. It is known for its drumming on trees, which it uses both to communicate and to mark its territory. It lives in deciduous and mixed forests, preferring areas with old-growth trees. The breeding season extends from spring to early summer, when it nests in cavities hollowed out in tree trunks. Despite its small size, its drumming is surprisingly powerful.