Picus viridis, commonly known as the European Green Woodpecker, is native to Europe and parts of western Asia. Its range extends across the majority of mainland Europe, from the British Isles and Scandinavia in the north, to the Iberian Peninsula in the west, and extending eastwards through the temperate regions of Eastern Europe and into parts of western Asia, including some areas of Turkey and the Caucasus region.

The European Green Woodpecker typically inhabits temperate deciduous and mixed woodlands, preferring environments with an abundant presence of mature trees as well as open grassy areas. It is also found in orchards, parks, and gardens, benefitting from a landscape that includes both cover and open spaces for foraging. The climate of these habitats is temperate, with moderate temperatures and varying precipitation patterns depending on specific regions.

As a ground-feeding woodpecker, Picus viridis predominantly feeds on ants, which make up the bulk of its diet. Its ecological niche involves the use of its long tongue to extract ants and other insects from the ground or decaying wood. The species is adapted to a terrestrial foraging lifestyle more so than its tree-dwelling woodpecker counterparts, often seen feeding on lawns and grassy patches.