Data Zone
Justification of Red List category
This species has an extremely large range and the population size is very large, hence does not approach threatened thresholds for the range or population size criteria. The population trend is not known, but the population is not believed to be decreasing sufficiently rapidly to approach the thresholds under the population trend criterion. For these reasons the species is evaluated as Least Concern.
Population justification
In Europe, the total population size is estimated at 645,000-1,540,000 mature individuals, with 322,000-767,000 breeding pairs (BirdLife International 2021), and comprises approximately 80% of the species' global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is between 806,000-1,930,000 mature individuals, although further validation of this estimate is desirable. In recent decades, this species has extended its range greatly. Formerly restricted to the eastern Mediterranean, it is now found throughout the Balkans, into central Europe, including Hungary and Poland. Agricultural development and other human activities have probably enabled this expansion (del Hoyo et al. 2002). Europe holds most of the species' global range, but despite the data collated, the overall population trend is unknown (BirdLife International 2021).
Trend justification
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This species occurs in open country with wooded areas. It is often found in plantations of all kinds, including olive, pecan (Carya) and avocado in the south, and vineyards in central Europe, where it is also seen in roadside trees and groups of trees, mainly near habitations, as well as forest edges, parks and gardens. It inhabits oak (Quercus) woodland and light montane forest in the southeast and breeds in coniferous forest at lower levels in Turkey. Egg-laying occurs from mid-April to May, rarely to June. The nest-hole is excavated by both sexes, but mostly by male, in a trunk or large branch of a tree, or occasionally in a utility pole or similar structure. Old nests are sometimes reused. Clutch size is three to seven eggs (Winkler et al. 2014). It is omnivorous, feeding on various insects, snails, earthworms, fruit, berries, sap, nuts and seeds (Gorman 2014). The species is resident and dispersive; sometimes long distances are covered during dispersal (Winkler et al. 2014).
Hybridization is known to occur with Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major), however once sufficient females of D. syriacus colonize an area, the extent of hybridization becomes insignificant (Hagemeijer and Blair 1997). The species was formerly persecuted locally as a pest (known to cause damage in plantations and peck irrigation pipes) and sometimes large numbers were shot, however it is now generally tolerated (Winkler et al. 2014).
Conservation Actions Underway
Bern Convention Appendix II. EU Birds Directive Annex I. There are currently no known conservation measures for this species within Europe.
Conservation Actions Proposed
No conservation measures are currently needed.
Text account compilers
Martin, R., Rutherford, C.A.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Species factsheet: Syrian Woodpecker Dendrocopos syriacus. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/syrian-woodpecker-dendrocopos-syriacus on 24/11/2024.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2024) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/species/search on 24/11/2024.