European green woodpecker

The European green woodpecker, also known as the yaffle and sometimes called a nickle, is a large green woodpecker with a bright red crown and a black moustache. Males have a red centre to the moustache stripe which is absent in females. It is resident across much of Europe and the western Palearctic but in Spain and Portugal it is replaced by the similar Iberian green woodpecker.

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Distribution

Region

Europe and western Palearctic

Typical Environment

Widespread across much of Europe, absent from parts of Iberia where replaced by the Iberian green woodpecker. Prefers open woodlands, parklands, orchards, hedgerows, and farmland with nearby trees. Often occurs in suburban greenspaces, golf courses, and large gardens where ant-rich lawns are present. Avoids dense, closed-canopy forests and very dry treeless habitats.

Altitude Range

Sea level to 2000 m

Climate Zone

Temperate

Characteristics

Size30–36 cm

Wing Span45–51 cm

Male Weight0.19 kg

Female Weight0.17 kg

Life Expectancy7 years

Ease of Keeping

Beginner friendly: 1/5

Useful to know

Also called the yaffle, this woodpecker is famous for its loud, laughing call and for spending much of its time feeding on the ground. It is a specialist ant-eater, using an exceptionally long, sticky tongue to probe nests. Unlike many woodpeckers, it drums infrequently and relies more on vocalizations.

Gallery

European green woodpecker (Switzerland) eating

Juvenile

Eggs of Picus viridis MHNT

Dropping opened to show ant remains

Behaviour

Temperament

shy and wary, often terrestrial

Flight Pattern

undulating with bursts of rapid wingbeats and short glides

Social Behavior

Usually seen singly or in pairs, maintaining territories year-round. Pairs excavate nest cavities in soft or decaying trunks of deciduous trees, laying 4–6 eggs in spring. Both sexes incubate and feed the chicks, which fledge after about three weeks.

Migratory Pattern

Resident

Song Description

A loud, laughing series of notes often rendered as ‘yaffle’, carrying far across open areas. Also gives sharp ‘kew’ or ‘kik’ calls; drumming is rare compared to other woodpeckers.

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Identification

Comb Type

Plumage Description

Feather Color

Leg Color

Earlobe Color

Eye Color

Feeding Habits

Diet

Preferred Environment

Requires Supplement

Population

Conservation Status

Species Status

Wild Population

Total Known Population

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