Flagspætte

The flagspætte, scientific name Picoides tridactylus, is a species of woodpecker found in coniferous forests across Eurasia. It is a medium-sized woodpecker, distinguished by its three-toed foot and the absence of the typical white barring on its back, instead possessing a largely black and white plumage. Males can be identified by a bright yellow or orange cap on their heads, while females have a black and white patterned crown. Their diet consists primarily of insects and their larvae, which they excavate from dead or dying trees using their strong beaks.

This species typically inhabits mature forests with a significant presence of deadwood, as this provides both food sources and nesting cavities. They are often solitary birds, though they may form loose pairs during the breeding season. The flagspætte's call is a sharp, high-pitched cry, and their drumming is a rapid, somewhat irregular sound. They excavate tree cavities for nesting, usually in dead trees or snags. The breeding season typically occurs in spring, with females laying a clutch of usually 3-7 eggs. Both parents share incubation and feeding duties.

The flagspætte's range extends from Scandinavia and the Alps eastward across Siberia and into parts of northeastern China and Japan. They are generally non-migratory, but may move short distances in response to food availability or harsh weather conditions. Their conservation status is considered stable in most parts of their range, though habitat loss due to logging and deforestation can pose localized threats. They play a role in forest ecosystems by controlling insect populations and by creating nest sites used by other cavity-nesting species after they abandon their own.