Rare woodpecker spotted in garden in Whitchurch

Richard Stevenson from Whitchurch spotted the European Green Woodpecker in his back garden, and kindly shared this image with the Bucks Herald.

The European green woodpecker 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 seen across much of Europe and the western Palearctic but in Spain and Portugal it is replaced by the similar Iberian green woodpecker.

The European green woodpecker measures 30–36 cm (12–14 in) in length with a 45–51 cm (18–20 in) wingspan.

Both sexes are green above and pale yellowish green below, with yellow rump and red crown and nape; the moustachial stripe has a red centre in the male but is solid black in the female.

Have you snapped any interesting wildlife in your backgarden? Send us your pictures at [email protected]