• MikeTalbot
  • 26 Mar 2023 6:07 PM
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Two Great Spotted Woodpeckers together - interesting behaviour today, with photos

We saw 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers this morning, both adult males I think, given the red spot on back of their heads. Over the course of a short 5mins watching them we saw these two interact - sometimes it seemed like they were trying to ignore each other by turning their backs and looking away from each other, at other times they looked directly at each other.  We saw them chase each other - they started in a scrub patch/tree next to a hedge (too thin to use as a nest, I would think), then onto a telephone pole and finally perching on the telephone wire above the pole.  After 5mins they flew off in different directions - one back to the original scrub/tree we found them in and the other went in the other direction.  Is this usual territorial behaviour?  If anyone knows where I can read more about this would be appreciated, thanks in advance if you do.

  

  • tuwit
    This is a pure guess (based on why male GSW might have a contest)

    It is territorial behaviour, and it is a fight over the right to 'drum' on a suitable bit of wood.

    Male GSW's drum to (a) attract a mate (b) tell other males to sling their hook.

    I'm not sure if its well studied behaviour. Perhaps there's a lack of suitable GSW drum sticks in the locality.
  • William Parsons
    Interesting photos.
  • Peewit
    Hi Mike

    Great photos by the way - very clear detail of the birds in fighting mode

    I think you have 2 very territorial Male GSW's fighting over territory or in their case a tree they desire to nest in.

    They certainly like to go for each other tooth and nails and those claws will do some damage I am sure of that. Hope that they sort out their differences soon

    Regards

    Kathy and Dave

  • seymouraves
    Hi-

    both sexes of GSWP drum in the early part of the year-
    both these birds are males so a territorial dispute seems most likely

    S

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