The Pied Woodpeckers

Name: The Pied Woodpeckers
Price: 69.99 AUD
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ISBN: 9781784275969

The Natural History of Europe’s Black & White Woodpeckers

Gerard Gorman

$69.99

Paperback

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English

Pelagic Publishing
17 February 2026

Taxonomy & systematics; Birds (ornithology); Wildlife: birds & birdwatching

Series: Pelagic Monographs

A resonant hammering from the canopy, a flicker of black and white with a flash of red: surely the archetypal image of a woodpecker? This book describes the natural history of five European species, the so-called pied woodpeckers: Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Syrian Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker and White-backed Woodpecker.

These fascinating birds are important ecosystem engineers, shaping the environment by creating cavities in trees where they can raise their young. This ability makes them keystone species, as their holes often go on to become homes for many other animals. Woodpeckers are also umbrella species, as their conservation invariably confers protection on a plethora of other birds, along with mammals and countless invertebrates. They are indicator species, too, for their presence is indicative of the biodiversity and condition of the woodland habitats they frequent. If you walk in a forest and there are no woodpeckers, this is in all likelihood a sign of ecological degradation.

Each species is covered in detail, with information on taxonomy, appearance, moult, calls, drumming, distribution, conservation status, habitats, movements, breeding, diet and relationships with other wildlife and with humans. The text is richly illustrated with stunning photographs as well as sound spectrograms. The author is an acknowledged authority on woodpeckers who supplements his vast field experience with an in-depth review of the literature.

By: Gerard Gorman
Imprint: Pelagic Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm, Spine: 14mm
Weight: 518g
ISBN: 9781784275969
ISBN 10: 1784275964
Series: Pelagic Monographs
Pages: 208
Publication Date: 17 February 2026
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface 1. Middle Spotted Woodpecker 2. Lesser Spotted Woodpecker 3. Syrian Woodpecker 4. Great Spotted Woodpecker 5. White-backed Woodpecker References Index

Gerard Gorman is a global authority on the Picidae. He has published numerous papers and six previous books on this fascinating family of birds, including Woodpeckers of the World: The Complete Guide (2014), The Wryneck (Pelagic Publishing 2022) and The Green Woodpecker (Pelagic Publishing 2023). For the past 35 years he has travelled the world studying woodpeckers, believing that time in the field is the only way to really get to know them. Gorman lives in Budapest and is a founder member and current leader of the Hungarian Woodpecker Group.

Reviews for The Pied Woodpeckers: The Natural History of Europe’s Black & White Woodpeckers

This book is an invaluable introduction to the studies carried out on these pied woodpeckers... a very accessible and well-structured account. -- Mark Avery * environmentalist and wildlife campaigner *