Who’s this headbanger?

This black-and-white beauty is a great spotted woodpecker, one of three woodpecker species found in Britain. It is widespread in England and Wales, although this one is firmly gripping onto a Scots pine tree in Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands. With its zygodactyl feet, it is well equipped to do so. Two toes face backward and two forward while stiffened tail feathers also help its grip. Once it is firmly locked on, it can get to work doing what it does best - battering its beak against tree trunks - and telegraph poles - up to 40 times a second in a distinctive “drumming” display designed to repel rivals and find a mate.
© Nature Picture Library/Alamy Stock Photo