WOODPECKERS OF EUROPE

Author: Gerard Gorman
Format: Hardback
No. of Pages: 176pp.
Release Date: July 2004
ISBN Number:
1-872842-05-4

Order this book at NHBS.

Gerard Gorman is well known in European birding circles as a keen birder and able tour leader. In his latest book he also shows his great love for this particular set of European birds.

Normally I would receive a book like this, check out the pictures, style and contents, then place it in the shelves in readiness for when I next encountered woodpeckers. But, this isn't just a reference book! It is quite obvious from the very beginning that this is a book that can be read for pure and simple pleasure. It's Gerard's writing style that wins the day - there's humour in there; for example: "An evolutionary adaptation found only in woodpeckers is the frontal overhang of the brain case. This structure, which is essentially a bony stop located at the base of the upper mandible hinge, is most developed in species that forage primarily by excavating timber, and it plays a key role in the prevention of woodpecker headaches." This is on the first page proper of the book! Needless to say that caught my attention, so I read this on.

Okay so Gerard does inject a degree of humanity into what is essentially areference book, but within this volume there is a wealth of knowledge and an obvious love for this family of birds. The first part of the book includes sections on "Evolution and Anatomy", "Taxonomy", "Moulting", "Flight Patterns", "Drumming" and "Foraging". Each section is well researched and written providing detailed information about European Woodpeckers. I particularly enjoyed the section on foraging with its illustrations showing the results of foraging by both woodpeckers and various European mammals.

Section two starts with a set of superb colour plates by Szablocs Kókay showing each of the ten woodpecker species. Each plate typically shows a male and female of the species, plus a juvenile and one or more races. Also provided are identification pointers to demonstrate the key aspects of plumage that differentiate each species. This section alone would make an ideal reference guide for anyone roaming the European woods in search of these birds - but this is a reference book rather than a field guide!

Staying with the illustrations, the book contains over 70 illustrations. Apart from the colour plates, the book contains some excellent black and white illustrations showing woodpeckers involved in typical, and not so typical, activities, including: flying, anting, foraging and drumming on satellite dishes or street lamps(!). Although black and white, these illustrations are good for assessing jizz and showing often unusual behaviour patterns.

There are also a series of maps showing the distribution of each species in Europe. Whilst effective, I found these the least appealing element of thebook.

The main body of the book is taken up with detailed descriptions of the ten woodpecker species, with sections covering: measurements, general appearance, races, hybrids and aberrants, similar species, voice/calls, drumming, signs, habitat, food and foraging, behaviour, breeding, holes, distribution/range, movements and status in Europe. This results in each species getting between 10 and 16 pages full of invaluable information. With my personal favourite being the Black Woodpecker, I was pleased to find a wealth of information including ways of identifying the signs left by foraging birds.

If you, like me, are addicted to woodpeckers then this will make a great addition to your library and will surely be one of the leading books in its field for some time to come.

Neil Phillips (Free-living.com)

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