The Great Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker, easily recognizable by its black-and-white plumage with red patches on the lower body and on the nape of the males. It feeds mainly on insects, larvae, and seeds, which it finds by digging into tree trunks with its sturdy beak. It is known for its characteristic drumming, which it uses for both communication and foraging. It prefers forested habitats but can also be found in parks and gardens. It nests in cavities that it hollows out in tree trunks during the spring.