The lesser spotted woodpecker: Wiltshire’s woodland enigma

By Jonathan Cooper, WSBRC Project Officer

When we think of Wiltshire, we conjure an image of rolling fields and downland. Indeed, that landscape covers much of our county; but look a bit closer and you will find beautiful pockets of woodland. It is some of these places that the secretive lesser spotted woodpecker calls home.

The lesser spotted woodpecker is the smallest and least common of the UK's three species of woodpecker. This diminutive bird looks much like its larger cousin, the great spotted woodpecker. The two can be told apart, as the lesser spotted lacks a white shoulder and has no red under the tail. It is also much smaller, being around the same size as a sparrow.

The lesser spotted woodpecker is a bird of the treetops, often found feeding in the very highest branches. Despite their small size, they have territories of up to 100 hectares; sometimes covering multiple smaller woodlands. Within these territories, standing dead trees provide both feeding opportunities and nesting sites.

Across the UK, lesser spotted woodpecker numbers have plummeted by around 90% between 1967 and 2020, placing them firmly on the Red List of threatened species. The exact causes of these declines are unclear. However, it is thought that loss of open woodland habitats combined with increased removal of deadwood may have contributed to the rapid drop in numbers.

Within Wiltshire, we have sadly lost the lesser spotted woodpecker from many woodlands; but they can still be found if you know where to look. A walk around Savernake Forest may yield a sighting of this elusive woodpecker and they can still be heard drumming in the spring in the Braydon Forest area (try Ravensroost Wood or The Firs nature reserves), although its 'drumming' is much quieter and less vigorous than that of the great spotted woodpecker.

It is clear that the lesser spotted woodpecker needs help. By working to link woodlands and ensuring they are managed in a way that compliments nature, we can help secure the future of this secretive, but charming bird in Wiltshire.

Find out more about the lesser spotted woodpecker at: www.wiltshirewildlife.org/lesser-spotted-woodpecker