The relationship between trees and birds is one of the oldest and most beautiful alliances in nature. Trees offer birds a roof over their heads, a dining room and a safe place to raise their young – and birds repay them by protecting the forest from insect pests and carrying seeds for kilometres. In Czech forests, from the beech woods of the Šumava to the oak woods of Central Bohemia, this coexistence plays out every day, literally above our heads.
Test yourself: Birds and trees quiz
Do you know the cavity-nesting birds, their favourite trees and their way of life? Try our interactive quiz and find out what hides behind the bark of an old oak or beech.
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Visit AMADEAA guide to the world of birds and trees
Of the roughly 186 bird species that breed regularly in the Czech Republic, about 40 use tree holes for nesting. These birds – known as cavity nesters – depend on old trees with suitable cavities. Let's take a look at the best known of them.
Black woodpecker – Dryocopus martius
The black woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in Europe and the key “architect” of cavity housing in Czech forests. It reaches over 45 cm in length, and its drumming on wood can be heard up to 500 metres away. It breeds mainly in old beech and fir forests in the Šumava, Jeseníky and Krkonoše, where it needs trunks at least 35 cm in diameter.
Black woodpecker holes are large – the entrance is 6–11 cm across and the cavity can be up to 57 cm deep. Once abandoned, these holes are readily taken over by stock doves, tawny owls, Tengmalm's owls and jackdaws. The black woodpecker thus indirectly provides housing for a whole community of forest birds – without its work, many of these species would struggle to breed in managed forests.
Great tit – Parus major
The great tit is the most numerous cavity nester in the Czech Republic and probably the best-known visitor to bird feeders – and a favourite motif of small wooden bird-themed decorations. Unlike the woodpecker, it cannot excavate a hole itself – it occupies natural openings in old fruit trees, limes and oaks, as well as nest boxes hung in gardens. A clutch contains 6–12 eggs, which the female incubates for 13–14 days.
Tits are immensely valuable to the forest: a single breeding pair brings its chicks tens of thousands of caterpillars and aphids during the nesting season. In the oak forests of Central Bohemia they play a decisive role in keeping gypsy moth outbreaks in check. So the link between tits and trees works both ways – the tree gives them a roof, and they protect its leaves.
Eurasian nuthatch – Sitta europaea
The nuthatch is the only Czech bird that climbs down tree trunks head first – and with complete ease. It is closely tied to broadleaved and mixed forests with old oaks and beeches at lower altitudes. As a secondary cavity nester, it takes over old woodpecker holes, but it has a unique trick up its sleeve: it plasters the entrance with mud to fit its own body exactly, so that neither martens nor squirrels can get in.
The nuthatch lives in Czech forests all year round and actively forages on tree trunks. It collects insects, larvae and spiders from crevices in oak and beech bark, and in autumn it stores acorns and seeds in cracks in the bark – unintentionally helping to sow new trees. Nature lovers can attract it to their garden by hanging a nest box near an old tree. Stand-alone wooden decorations featuring the nuthatch or other woodland birds are a lovely reminder of this coexistence at home.
Great spotted woodpecker – Dendrocopos major
The great spotted woodpecker is the most widespread woodpecker in the Czech Republic – it lives in forests, parks and gardens from the lowlands to mountain spruce forests. It excavates holes mainly in conifers and softer broadleaved trees such as alder, poplar or willow. It also cleverly uses a so-called “anvil” – a firm crevice or fork in the branches where it wedges a cone or nut and hacks it open with its bill.
Outside the breeding season, the great spotted woodpecker contributes significantly to seed dispersal. It breaks open spruce and pine cones and picks out the seeds, but it loses some of them nearby – and these seeds germinate. Like an “accidental gardener”, the woodpecker helps the forest regenerate. If you are looking for a wooden decoration inspired by Czech nature, have a look at the wooden home decorations and accessories from AMADEA.
Stock dove – Columba oenas
Of all cavity nesters, the stock dove is the most closely tied to the large holes of the black woodpecker in old beech woods. Without habitat trees it has little chance of breeding. It is therefore a strict indicator of forest quality: where stock doves breed, there are usually stands varied in age and species, with plenty of old trees.
In Czech forests the stock dove is one of the less conspicuous but regular breeding birds. The strongest populations are in Carpathian and South Bohemian beech woods where the black woodpecker lives. Stock doves can be confused with woodpigeons – the most reliable distinguishing features are two short dark bars on the wing and an iridescent green patch on the neck (without the white neck patch typical of the woodpigeon).
The most common mix-ups and mistakes
In the world of cavity nesters, even experienced observers make mistakes. Here are the three most common traps.
At a glance: birds and their tree requirements
| Species | Type of cavity nester | Favourite tree | Entrance diameter | Food from the tree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black woodpecker | primary (excavates) | beech, fir, pine | 6–11 cm | wood-boring larvae, ants |
| Great spotted woodpecker | primary (excavates) | spruce, alder, poplar | 4.5–5.5 cm | larvae, seeds, cones |
| Great tit | secondary | oak, lime, fruit trees | 2.8–3.2 cm | caterpillars, aphids, seeds |
| Nuthatch | secondary + mud plastering | oak, beech, hornbeam | 3.2–3.8 cm | insects, acorns, seeds |
| Stock dove | secondary (large cavities) | beech (black woodpecker holes) | min. 5–7 cm | seeds, acorns, beechnuts |
| Collared flycatcher | secondary | oak, beech, hornbeam | 4.5–5 cm | insects from leaves, berries |
Frequently asked questions about trees and birds
Why are habitat trees so important for birds?
Habitat trees with natural cavities are home to about 40 bird species in the Czech Republic. Birds such as tits, nuthatches and flycatchers cannot excavate holes themselves and depend entirely on cavities formed by rot or by woodpeckers. Without habitat trees, these birds would breed only minimally in managed forests – which is why the Czech state forests, together with the Czech Society for Ornithology, systematically mark habitat trees and protect them from felling.
Which birds can excavate their own nest hole?
Only woodpeckers – such as the black woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, lesser spotted woodpecker, Syrian woodpecker, and green and grey-headed woodpeckers – can excavate their own holes. They are called primary cavity nesters. Other birds are secondary cavity nesters and occupy ready-made holes.
How can I help cavity-nesting birds at home?
The most effective step is to hang nest boxes with an entrance hole sized for a particular species: 28–32 mm is enough for tits, 45–50 mm for woodpeckers and over 70 mm for stock doves. Clean the boxes every autumn after the breeding season. If you have an old tree with a hole in your garden, don't hesitate – leave it standing. It is a home for decades. Wooden crates and boxes from AMADEA can also serve as a base for making your own nest box from natural material.
Which tree attracts the most bird species?
One of the most valuable trees for birds is an old oak – it hosts hundreds of insect species, which are key food for birds feeding caterpillars to their chicks. A beech with cavities is irreplaceable for the black woodpecker and the stock dove. Limes and fruit trees are favoured by tits, redstarts and flycatchers. As a general rule: the older the tree, the richer the bird community.
Where can I find AMADEA wooden products inspired by birds and forests?
AMADEA offers a wide range of handmade wooden products with bird and nature motifs – from small bird-themed wooden ornaments and stand-alone wooden decorations to wooden puzzles with nature motifs, which make a great educational and decorative gift for nature lovers of all ages.
🐦 Inspired by nature? Bring it home in the form of handmade wooden products made from Czech woods. Every piece carries the story of the forest.
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