THE GREAT SPOTTED 

 WOODPECKER 



PICUS MAJOR 



LOCAL names in surrounding counties : " French Mag- 

 pie " (Essex). 



STATUS IN BRITISH AVIFAUNA : A widely distributed if 

 local resident in the woodlands of England and Wales, 

 becoming rarer north of Yorkshire. It is not known to 

 breed in Scotland, and is absent from Ireland. Its 

 numbers are increased to a certain extent in autumn by 

 migrants. 



RADIAL DISTRIBUTION WITHIN FIFTEEN MILES OF ST. 

 PAUL'S : This Woodpecker seems everywhere to be less 

 common than the preceding, and in many localities where 

 its larger ally is comparatively numerous this species is 

 rare, or absent altogether. It is a resident in Epping 

 Forest and Wanstead, but is very local, and the same 

 may be said regarding the Wembley district. So far as I 

 know these three localities probably represent the only 

 nesting ones within the immediate vicinity of London. 

 It is said to breed occasionally in Richmond Park, but 

 competent observers remark upon its rarity in that place. 

 I have few records from any of the more central parks, 

 but the bird is certainly a casual visitor to Kensington 

 Gardens. On the other hand, there are many districts 

 in the rural suburbs which this species probably visits 

 occasionally, and is overlooked. There are many wood- 

 lands in these localities, full of grand old timber, and quite 

 secluded enough to offer it a congenial refuge. Beyond 

 our radius Windsor Park, Ditton Park, Taplow, Eton, 

 and Burnham may be mentioned as localities for this 

 species. 



The Great Spotted Woodpecker is perhaps more fre- 



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