Dendrocopos major
Dendrocopos major
This species is native to the temperate and boreal latitudes of the Palearctic, ranging from Europe to the far north of continental Russia (Keller et al., 2020; BirdLife International, 2024). In Spain, the Iberian subspecies (D. m. hispanus) is found, being more abundant in forested areas of the northern half (Camprodon in SEO/BirdLife, 2022). Its distribution in the southern half is more fragmented, depending on arboreal vegetation structures. It is therefore more abundant in mountain systems such as Sierra Morena, the Baetic Mountains, and the southern Iberian System. In the Canary Islands, there are two subspecies occupying specific islands: D. m. canariensis in Tenerife and D. m. thanneri in Gran Canaria (Del Hoyo et al., 2014), and it is common in all forested areas (Lorenzo, 2007). It is absent from the Balearic Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla.
In the Community of Madrid, it occupies the entire northwestern half and some isolated nuclei in the south and east. It prefers mature coniferous forests of Scots pine but also occurs in oak woods, riparian forests, and large urban parks (Díaz et al., 1994).
Within the national park, its distribution is broad and coincides with the most mature and extensive forest areas, being scarce or absent in shrublands and deforested zones, especially at higher altitudes. Its highest abundances are in the northeastern end east of Puerto de Navafría, in the Lozoya Valley forests, and in forested areas near the municipality of Cercedilla.
This species is strongly associated with wooded habitats, both coniferous and deciduous, occurring in monospecific or mixed stands (Camprodón et al., 2007). In the Iberian Peninsula, it is more abundant in pine forests, fir forests, and oak woods, but also occurs in mixed and riparian forests. It is less abundant in Mediterranean deciduous forests and beech forests. The species relies heavily on mature stands with tree cavities and dead trees, although it can also colonize other formations such as conifer plantations, poplars, eucalyptus, and deciduous trees in urban parks and gardens. In the Canary Islands, it nests in mature pine forests, whether plantation or native (Delgado & Naranjo, 2000).
Within the national park, the highest densities were recorded in deciduous forests (melojares in the protected area), with much lower abundances in mature pine forest formations.
At a global scale, it is classified as Least Concern (LC; 2016). In Europe, it is also categorized as Least Concern (LC; 2021). In Spain, it is listed as Least Concern in the 2021 Red List, though considered Near Threatened in Gran Canaria and Vulnerable in Tenerife.
The Catalogue of Threatened Species of the Community of Madrid (1992) does not list this species under any threat category.
BirdLife International 2024. IUCN Red List for birds. https://datazone.birdlife.org.
Camprodon, J., Campión, D., Martínez-Vidal, R., Onrubia, A., Robles, H., Romero, J. L. y Senosiain, A. 2007. Estatus, selección del hábitat y conservación de los pícidos ibéricos. En Camprodón, J. y Plana, E. (eds.): Conservación de la biodiversidad, fauna vertebrada y gestión forestal. Universitat de Barcelona. Barcelona.
Del Hoyo, J., Collar, N. J., Christie, D. A., Elliott, A. y Fishpool, L. D. C. (eds.). 2014. HBW and BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World. Volume 1: Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.
Díaz, M., Martí, R., Gómez-Manzaneque, Á. y Sánchez, A. 1994. Atlas de las aves nidificantes en Madrid. Agencia de Medio Ambiente y SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
Keller, V., Herrando, S., Voříšek, P., Franch, M., Kipson, M., Milanesi, P., Martí, D., Antón, M., Klvaňová, A., Kalyakin, M. V. Bauer, H. Gr y Foppen, R. P. B. 2020. European Breeding Bird Atlas 2: Distribution, Abundance and Change. European Birds Census Council y Lynx Edicions. Barcelona.
Delgado, G. y Naranjo, J. J. 2000. El pinar canario: fauna y conservación. Gobierno de Canarias.
Lorenzo, J. A. (ed.). 2007. Atlas de las aves nidificantes en el archipiélago canario (1997-2003). Ministerio de Medio Ambiente y SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.
SEO/BirdLife (Molina, B., Nebreda, A., Muñoz, A. R., Seoane, J., Real, R., Bustamante, J. y Del Moral, J. C., eds.) 2022. III Atlas de las aves en época de reproducción en España. SEO/BirdLife. Madrid.