The Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, is a large woodpecker, 40-46 cm long with a 67-73 cm wingspan.

It lives in mature forest across the northern palearctic. It is the sole representative of its genus in that region. Its range is expanding in Eurasia. It does not migrate.

Description

The plumage of this crow-sized woodpecker is entirely black apart from a red crown. In males, the entire crown is red, but in females only the top hindcrown is red with the rest of the body all black. The sexes differ even as nestlings.An adult has a very long beak of 2 1/2 inches. Their call is quite remarkable in that it has two different calls. One is a short single high-pitched note done only twice in a row. The other is a screech like shrill while in flight.

The Black Woodpecker's flight is indeed dipping like other woodpeckers.

The nest is a tree-hole into which four or more eggs are laid.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Dryocopus martius