The middle spotted woodpecker is a European woodpecker belonging to the genus Dendrocoptes.
Region
Central and Southern Europe
Typical Environment
Found from France and the Iberian Peninsula through Central Europe to western Russia, with isolated populations in parts of the Balkans and the Caucasus foothills. It favors extensive, mature deciduous woodlands dominated by oak and hornbeam, also using traditional orchards and riparian forests. The species is patchy where suitable old-growth structure is lacking. In winter it may move locally within forested landscapes in search of food.
Altitude Range
Sea level to 1500 m
Climate Zone
Temperate
Ease of Keeping
Beginner friendly: 1/5
The middle spotted woodpecker is a European woodpecker of mature deciduous forests, especially those rich in old oaks. Unlike many woodpeckers, it frequently forages in the outer canopy, gleaning insects from thin twigs rather than heavy hammering. Adults show a distinctive solid red crown, shared by both sexes, and a soft, mewing call. It was formerly placed in the genus Dendrocopos but is now widely recognized as Dendrocoptes.
Race sanctijohannis from the Zagros region
Dendrocopos medius
Temperament
solitary and territorial
Flight Pattern
undulating flight with short rapid wingbeats
Social Behavior
Typically seen singly or in pairs; pairs often maintain territories year-round in suitable woodland. Nests are excavated in decaying trunks or large branches, usually in old oaks; both sexes participate in excavation and incubation. Clutches commonly contain 4–6 eggs, and the species shows strong site fidelity to high-quality stands.
Migratory Pattern
Resident
Song Description
More vocal in spring with a nasal, mewing ‘wee-eh’ or ‘nay’ call repeated from the canopy. Drumming is softer and less powerful than in great spotted woodpecker, often a brief, dry roll. Calls carry through mature woodland and help locate pairs in dense foliage.
Plumage
Laddered black-and-white upperparts with broad white scapular patches and barred wings; underparts off-white with fine streaking on the flanks and a pinkish-red vent. Head pale with a prominent solid red crown in adults and limited dark facial markings. Overall looks paler-faced and less contrasting than great spotted woodpecker.
Diet
Feeds mainly on insects and their larvae, including beetles, caterpillars, and ants gleaned from bark, buds, and twigs. It probes and pecks at crevices and dead wood but relies heavily on gleaning in the outer canopy. Seasonally it may take sap, seeds, and small fruits when insects are scarce.
Preferred Environment
Forages high in mature deciduous trees, especially oaks with rough bark and dead branches. Also uses orchards, forest edges, and riparian groves where old trees persist.
