Photo: Frank Vassen from Brussels, Belgium / CC BY 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Middle Spotted Woodpecker
Dendrocoptes medius
Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of Europe & Northern Asia.
Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) is a member of the Picidae family found in Europe & Northern Asia. Adults weigh 59 g.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Dendrocoptes
- Species medius
Quick facts
- Weight
- 59 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of dense woodland, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. Its range spans Europe & Northern Asia. Its distribution covers PAL w, sw.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 59 g, with a wing length of about 12.4 cm and a tail of around 8.4 cm.
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Middle Spotted Woodpecker?
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 59 g.
Where does the Middle Spotted Woodpecker live?
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is found across Europe & Northern Asia with a range covering PAL w, sw, where it favours woodland, forest and well-treed country.
What family does the Middle Spotted Woodpecker belong to?
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocoptes medius) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the Middle Spotted Woodpecker eat?
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the Middle Spotted Woodpecker migrate?
The Middle Spotted Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
What sound does the Middle Spotted Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the Middle Spotted Woodpecker — including its alarm call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
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.