Best time to see: all year

Key facts

Tiny black-and-white barred woodpecker, not much bigger than a sparrow

Habitat: countryside well wooded with broad-leaved trees

Resident; widespread but thinly distributed and declining

Recognition

Pale underparts, black-and-white barred upperparts; male has red crown; up to 15 cm

Feeds on insects high in the canopy of trees where it may remain undetectable, except when drumming Play

Slow, hesitant, undulating flight

Lifecycle

Nest is a tree hole bored in a decaying tree trunk or branch, with a shaft up to 25 cm. long leading to a nest chamber

One brood May to June; 4-6 white eggs