These two great spotted woodpeckers were duetting in an old ash tree at Wolsingham in Weardale yesterday afternoon. The upper one (which I think is the male) had chosen a short spur of wood from a broken branch to drum on. The female moved from where she is in this picture to a thick old dead branch that produced a sound with a lower pitch when she drummed. They alternated for several minutes before she lost interest and flew off, pursued by the male. Wish I'd had sound recording equipment with me ...... but you can listen to a sound file here.
What striking (no pun intended) birds. They seem to have red on their bums instead of their heads - is that true? How unwoodpeckerish!
ReplyDeleteNot seen two at the same time before.
ReplyDeleteThe male has red on the head but not the female Ellen...
ReplyDeleteMe neither toffeeapple, I think they were chasing each other from tree to tree ....
ReplyDelete