Green woodpecker (picus viridis)
Green woodpecker (picus viridis) in west London.
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. The lores and around the white eye are black in both male and female. Juveniles are spotty and streaked all over; the moustache is dark initially, though juvenile males can show some red feathers by early June or usually by July or August.
I have been hearing a woodpecker in the gardens of Chiswick House for days, probably a different species as the green woodpecker does not ‘drum’ as much as the other two species.
Seen in the gardens of Chiswick House
Leave a comment