Bird Guide

Syrian Woodpecker vs White-backed Woodpecker

Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus)

Syrian Woodpecker

Dendrocopos syriacus

Medium77 gWoodland

The woodpecker is 23 cm (9.1 in) long, and is very similar to the great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major. The upper parts of the male are glossy black, with a crimson spot on the nape and white on the forehead, sides of the face and neck. On the shoulder is a large white patch and the flight feathers are black with white spots forming three wingbars. The three outer tail feathers show only a few white spots; these show when the short stiff tail is outspread, acting as a support in climbing. The under parts are buffish white, the abdomen and under tail coverts reddish.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Photo: SteveM4560 · CC BY 2.5
White-backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos)

White-backed Woodpecker

Dendrocopos leucotos

Medium117 gForest

It is the largest of the spotted woodpeckers in the western Palearctic, 24–26 cm long with wing-span 38–40 cm. The plumage is similar to the great spotted woodpecker, but with white bars across the wings rather than spots, and a white lower back. The male has a red crown, the female a black one. Drumming by males is very loud, calls include a soft kiuk and a longer kweek.

ID text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sonogram of the White-backed Woodpecker
Recorded by Nikita Panfilov · Uncertain · Mednoe, Kalininsky District, Tver Oblast, Russian Federation · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Andrew Bazdyrev · CC BY 4.0

Where you might meet both

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Photos and recordings are credited to their authors under the licence shown. Full profiles: Syrian Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker.