Lesser spotted woodpecker

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Several years ago, Mr H.W. Allen sent me a small bird which had been found dead near the Old Hall at East Tuddenham. It proved to be a lesser spotted woodpecker, but unusual in having a jet black crown.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Male
Black with white barring above, white underparts and red crown.
Dendrocopos minor ...

The lesser spotted woodpecker is the smallest and least common of the three woodpeckers that are resident in Britain. The male is distinguished from the female by his bright red crown. It tends to nest and feed higher up and is quieter in its tapping.

Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos minor
Brown-fronted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos auriceps
Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos macei
Stripe-breasted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos atratus
Yellow-crowned Woodpecker, Dendrocopos mahrattensis ...

They also drum on trees, though the sound is not as resonant as that made by the other two British species (the greater and lesser spotted woodpeckers). Green woodpeckers survive on a diet of insects and have a particular fondness for ants.

Dendrocopus major - Great Spotted Woodpecker (photo)
Dendrocopus minor - Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocopus leucotos - White-backed Woodpecker
Picoides
Picoides tridactylus - Northern Three-toed Woodpecker ...

See also: Great spotted woodpecker, Woodpecker, Wryneck, Flamingo, Finch