Description
The Black Woodpecker is the largest of the European woodpeckers. Its plumage is entirely black, with a distinctive red crest on the head in males; in females, the red crest is limited to the nape of the neck. It feeds mainly on insects and larvae, which it extracts by drilling into tree trunks with its powerful beak. The Black Woodpecker is known for its distinctive loud and resonant call. It prefers mature coniferous and deciduous forests but can also adapt to mixed woodlands. It nests in large cavities that it hollows out in tree trunks, usually beginning in April. Hollows abandoned by the Black Woodpecker are often used by other bird species, including the Eurasian Scops Owl, as well as by other small mammals.
The Situation in Italian-Speaking Switzerland
The Black Woodpecker is widespread in Switzerland, and its population appears to be increasing. In Ticino, the species has expanded its range to include low-altitude regions. It now also nests in the Mendrisiotto region and across the border, where it was absent until about ten years ago. The species requires large, mature forests for nesting; coniferous forests are particularly preferred.
- Dryocopus martius
- Pic noir
- Schwarzspecht
- Pic nair
- Black Woodpecker
- 48 cm
- 64–84 cm
