What they like

Quiet. Old deciduous and coniferous forests with thick trees, preferably with some dead wood among them. In a park or farmyard: leave a few old trees standing. And if one dies? Don’t saw it away straight away. A tall stump can stay. In agricultural areas: keep hedgerows, shelterbelts and small copses wide and untidy. Plant oak, beech, birch, pine and spruce in small groups. Don’t make it too neat.

Ecological importance

This woodpecker is the carpenter of the forest. His large nest and roost holes are later used by tawny owls, jackdaws, nuthatches, bats and sometimes even a swarm of bees. He mainly hunts ants and beetle larvae. Fewer ants in the trunk, less rot in the tree. No need to tidy up: they does the job.

When in the Netherlands

All year round. You often hear them before you see them: a loud call and a drumming that cuts through the woods.

Status

Breeding bird. Locally common in larger forest areas, scarce where old forest and dead wood are lacking.