A common black-and-white woodpecker found across much of Eurasia. Key features include large white shoulder patches, a bright red vent, and a black crown. The male shows a red patch on the nape, while juveniles of both sexes have a red cap. Its size and bold pattern make it easy to recognize through most of its range. It occupies a wide variety of wooded habitats, from forests and parkland to gardens and hedged farmland with scattered trees. It forages mainly on trunks and larger branches but will also visit feeders. Its call is a sharp “kik!” often repeated in a series, and it frequently drums in a short, rapid burst that fades quickly.

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