Male in middle showing a red nape patch and female at bottom. Three subspecies of this neat medium-sized woodpecker are found in Japan. This is japonicus which is resident in Hokkaido and characterized by longer bill, smaller white scapular patch, and more extensive white spotting on its wings. Genetic studies by Perktas & Quintero (2013) and Winkler et al. (2014) suggested that Japanese populations deserve elevation to phylogenetic species status called "Japanese Great Spotted Woodpecker." However this suggestion has not been widely adopted probably because the biological species concept is generally preferred. Canon PowerShot SX60.
References:
Perktas, U. & Quintero, E. (2013) A wide geographical survey of mitochondrial DNA variation in the Great Spotted Woodpecker complex, Dendrocopos major (Aves: Picidae). Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 108(1): 173–188.
Winkler, H., Gamauf, A., Nittinger, F. & Haring, E. (2014) Relationships of Old World woodpeckers (Aves: Picidae)—new insights and taxonomic implications. Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien. 116: 69–86.
Winkler, H., Christie, D.A. & Kirwan, G.M. (2019). Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D.A. & de Juana, E. (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. (retrieved from https://www.hbw.com/node/56225 on 18 May 2019).