Great Spotted Woodpecker
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Chordata, Class: Aves, Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae, Genus: Dendrocopos, Species: major · Picidae (Woodpeckers) · Flight feather (secondary remex)
Species
Dendrocopos major
Feather Type
Flight feather (secondary remex)
Family
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
Shape
Asymmetrical, elongated with a rounded tip, typical of a flight feather from the inner wing area.
Size
Approximately 9-11 cm in length and 1.5-2 cm in width, consistent with mid-wing secondaries of this species.
Rarity
Common and widespread within its range.
Color & Pattern
Striking black base with high-contrast white ovate spots. The spots are arranged in a transverse banding pattern that creates white stripes when the wing is closed. The rachis is dark.
Barb Structure
Pennaceous; the barbs are tightly interlocked for aerodynamic stability, becoming slightly more plumulaceous (fluffy) near the calamus (base).
Texture & Surface
Firm, stiff, and smooth to the touch with a slight glossy sheen on the dorsal surface to repel water and debris.
Description
This feather belongs to a medium-sized woodpecker known for its black-and-white 'checkerboard' plumage and bright red undertail coverts. Males also feature a red patch on the nape. They are famous for their 'drumming' on resonant wood as a form of communication.
Key Features
Bold black and white spotting, rounded tip, and stiff rachis typical of Picidae flight feathers.
Habitat
Woodlands, parks, and gardens. It prefers mixed or deciduous forests with plenty of old or dead wood for nesting and foraging.
Geographic Range
Resident across most of the Palearctic, from Britain across Europe and Northern Asia to Japan and North Africa.
Condition Notes
The feather appears in Good to Excellent condition with very little wear on the distal edges, suggesting a relatively recent molt.
Interesting Facts
Woodpeckers have specialized shock-absorbing skulls and long, barbed tongues that can wrap around their brains to cushion the impact of high-speed drilling.
Ecological Role
Keystone species; they create nesting cavities used by many other bird and mammal species and help control wood-boring insect populations.
Similar Species
Syrian Woodpecker (Dendrocopos syriacus) and Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Dryobates minor), though the latter is much smaller with narrower banding.