Fairly common to common in open woodland, heathland, gardens, and farmland with hedges and scattered larger trees. Unlike most woodpeckers, feeds mainly on the ground, including garden lawns, where probes into anthills and moves with an odd, shuffling gait. Fairly large size and mostly green plumage distinctive in most areas; also note red crown, pale eyes, and black face (male has red whisker mark). Yellowish rump shows mainly in slightly undulating flight.