Syrian Woodpecker
Dendrocopos syriacus
The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) is a uncommon woodpecker found in 32 countries, weighing about 77 g. The Syrian woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family, the Picidae.
About the Syrian Woodpecker
The Syrian woodpecker is a member of the woodpecker family, the Picidae.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
How to identify it
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.
Where it lives
When to see it
The Syrian Woodpecker can be seen all year round, with peak activity in May. It is a resident species across most of its range.
Easily confused with
Quick questions
- How do you identify a Syrian Woodpecker?
- The woodpecker is 23 cm (9.1 in) long, and is very similar to the great spotted woodpecker, Dendrocopos major. Full identification notes are on this page.
- How big is a Syrian Woodpecker?
- The Syrian Woodpecker is a medium sized bird weighing about 77 g.
- Where can you see a Syrian Woodpecker?
- The Syrian Woodpecker occurs in 32 countries, including Israel, Türkiye, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Greece.
- What birds look similar to a Syrian Woodpecker?
- The Syrian Woodpecker is most easily confused with the White-backed Woodpecker, the Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker and the Freckle-breasted Woodpecker.
- Is the Syrian Woodpecker endangered?
- The Syrian Woodpecker is listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.
Learn the Syrian Woodpecker for real
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