Green Woodpecker 2 Picus viridis

More photos of the photogenic Green Woodpecker. It often forages for ant nests near patios and plant pots since ants like the warmth and protection for their nests.

Like most woodpeckers, it has zygodactyl feet, meaning that it has 2 toes (the 2nd and 3rd) pointing forward and 2 toes (the 1st and 4th) backward, like a parrot.

There are hazards from aggresive ants when preying on ant nests.

Several other birds are interested when the Green Woodpecker, which can spend 20 minutes or more at an ant nest, has found food.

Except for the juvenile woodpecker above left and another in France, all photos of the Green Woodpecker here and on the other two pages were taken in my back garden in northwest London.