Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
Dryobates minor
The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor) is a common woodpecker found in 52 countries, weighing about 20 g. The lesser spotted woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae.
About the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker
The lesser spotted woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family Picidae. It was formerly assigned to the genus Dendrocopos. Some taxonomic authorities continue to list the species there.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
This is the smallest European woodpecker, with adults being 14 to 16.5 cm (5.5 to 6.5 in) long with a wing span of 24 to 29 cm (9.4 to 11.4 in) and weighing 17 to 25 g (0.60 to 0.88 oz). A sample of 50 lesser spotted woodpeckers in Great Britain averaged 19.8 g (0.70 oz) in body mass. From its small size and its habit of spending most of its time in the tops of tall trees in woods and parks, this little woodpecker is often overlooked, but if sighted on a trunk it may at once be identified by the broad barring on the wings and narrower bars across the lower back.
What the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker sounds like
Where it lives
Recorded as a rare visitor in Liechtenstein, Andorra.
When to see it
Best months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, with peak activity in April. It is a passage migrant species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker?
- This is the smallest European woodpecker, with adults being 14 to 16.5 cm (5.5 to 6.5 in) long with a wing span of 24 to 29 cm (9.4 to 11.4 in) and weighing 17 to 25 g (0.60 to 0.88 oz). Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker?
- The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is a small sized bird weighing about 20 g.
- Where can you see a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker?
- The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker occurs in 52 countries, including Sweden, France, Norway, Spain and Belgium.
- What does a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker sound like?
- You can listen to 3 field recordings of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker on this page, contributed to xeno-canto under open licences.
- What birds look similar to a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker?
- The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is most easily confused with the Ladder-backed Woodpecker, the Nuttall's Woodpecker and the Crimson-naped Woodpecker.
- Is the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker endangered?
- The Lesser Spotted Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker for real
BeakBrain drills you on photos and calls until you can greet this bird by name in the field. Free to play, on any device.
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