Birdwatching - 3248🐦

🦉 The lesser spotted woodpecker (Picoides minor , synonym of Dryobates minor)

• Dryobates (Greek) : druos - forest, woodland, batēs - walker, stroller
• minor (Latin) - smaller

This small species of woodpecker is the size of a sparrow or a tit, which evokes a certain tenderness when you see it in person. It moves quickly along branches, pecking at the bark to extract insects from beneath. It searches for food on the thin bark of branches, as its small beak prevents it from doing so on the rough, thick bark of tree trunks.

The only exceptions are old, rotten trees with loose, brittle bark. This woodpecker is capable of drilling through such bark. Rotten wood also stains the woodpecker's face, causing it to acquire brown spots. As you can see from these photos.