Woodpecker drumming, Greater or lesser spotted? (1 Viewer)

[joannec]

While out birding this morning I heard drumming but didn't see the bird. Am I right in thinking that the drumming of greater spotted woodpeckers ends abruptly and that of the lesser spotted sort of fades away? What I heard today was loud and then got softer towards the end. It was like this with each burst of drumming. I have yet to see a lesser spotted woodpecker but know they are around here. The wood was old mixed deciduous with many large trees. Any opinions? Thanks.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

What you describe sounds better for Lesser-spotted. Their drumming is usually a little more prolonged than Great-spotted and, as you say, fades away towards the end.

 

[aythya_hybrid]

Without meaning to contradict Andrew, GS Woodpecker does usually fade away, whereas Lesser Spot is more abrupt. This is not 100% reliable as GSW can sound abrupt, as I found to my cost this week when i thought I had a LSW drumming but when I saw it it was a GSW. However, any bird that fades out is more likely to be GSW.

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Actually just checked Beaman and Madge, which says that Great-spotted Woodpecker's drumming 'abruptly fades away', whatever that means! I've always thought of their drumming ending rather suddenly and being a very short burst, whereas Lesser-spotted's is slightly more prolonged and quieter.

 

[Bubbs]

From my memory Lesser is a very short but very fast rattle, much quicker than GSW. I can't remember it fading away towards the end.

John.

 

[Xenospiza]

Lesser Spotted lasts longer and is faster and higher.
It can be heard at:
http://www.ivnvechtplassen.org/ivn_vogels_park_bos/Kleine_Bonte_Specht_Dendrocopos-minor.html
Greater is at:
http://www.ivnvechtplassen.org/ivn_vogels_park_bos/Grote_Bonte_Specht_Dendrocopos-major.html
Note that the sounds are on a loop, so its pauses are not natural at all! Try to stop them after playing them once.

 

[dan pointon]

Was lucky enough to watch one drumming for 20 minutes today, far faster and higher pitched than the GSW's, the drumming ended fairly abruptly, not faded from what I can remember.

Cheers

 

[Touty]

Without meaning to contradict Andrew, GS Woodpecker does usually fade away, whereas Lesser Spot is more abrupt. This is not 100% reliable as GSW can sound abrupt, as I found to my cost this week when i thought I had a LSW drumming but when I saw it it was a GSW. However, any bird that fades out is more likely to be GSW.

I'm lucky enough to have 5 species of 'drummers' on my local patch from Black through to Lesser Spot (BW, GW, GHW, GSW, LSW) and I have to say I've never been able to get a handle on any of them. SO much depends upon what they're drumming on and how excited they are. Listen to the Roché CDs and you'll get the picture.

 

[joannec]

Thanks everyone but I am no nearer knowing which I heard. It wasn't as high pitched as the recording for LSW but it was alot longer than the recording of the GSW and it did sort of fade at the end of each burst. I'll have to go back and really look for it.