Photo: אריה טננבאום / CC BY 2.5 (Wikimedia Commons)
Syrian Woodpecker
Dendrocopos syriacus
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 2 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) is a member of the Picidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 76.7 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Dendrocopos
- Species syriacus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 76.7 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
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Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Syrian Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Syrian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL se Europe to s Iran.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 76.7 g, with a wing length of about 12.3 cm and a tail of around 7.5 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 2.9 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Syrian Woodpecker?
The Syrian Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 76.7 g.
Where does the Syrian Woodpecker live?
The Syrian Woodpecker is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL se Europe to s Iran, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the Syrian Woodpecker belong to?
The Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Syrian Woodpecker eat?
The Syrian Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Syrian Woodpecker migrate?
The Syrian Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Syrian Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Syrian Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Syrian Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Syrian Woodpecker's range?
The Syrian Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 2.9 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.