Black Woodpecker

Nests in

• European BeechFagus sylvatica

  Primary nest tree in Central and Western European beech forests; preferentially selects trunks with heartrot from Fomes fomentarius.

• Scots PinePinus sylvestris

  Primary nest tree in boreal and eastern European pine forests.

Feeds on

• Honey FungusArmillaria mellea

  Forages on wood colonised by Honey Fungus, feeding on both the fungal tissue and associated beetle larvae.

Symbiosis with

• Tinder FungusFomes fomentarius

  Preferentially nests in Beech trunks infected with Tinder Fungus. The fungus softens heartwood while the bird's cavity promotes further fungal colonisation (Zahner et al. 2012).

• Aspen BracketPhellinus tremulae

  Black Woodpecker preferentially excavates nest cavities in aspen trunks infected by this fungus; decay softens heartwood to enable excavation (Zahner et al. 2012).

• Honey BuzzardPernis apivorus

  Frequently re-uses or nests near Black Woodpecker cavities in mature beech; commensal facilitation.