Giant beak puts woodpecker top of the bill

A beak that is more than twice the normal size has taken a North Yorkshire woodpecker to the top of the pecking order.

Ornithologists said they were surprised the great spotted woodpecker could fly, let alone feed, because of the size of its bill.



Tony Richardson, of the RSPB, said the woodpecker had a "serious beak deformity".

"It's probably 120% bigger than it should be," he said. "A beak grows much like hair and nails on a human, but natural wear and tear should keep it in check. Many birds wouldn't be able to survive with this handicap - but luckily woodpeckers have enormous tongues, so this one is still able to gather food."