Woodpeckers

Black-backed Woodpecker, Picoides arcticus

Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)

Size: 9"

Season: Year-round

Habitat: Coniferous forests, recently burned areas

The black-backed woodpecker is closely related to the American three-toed woodpecker, which has a similar range and also shares the trait of having only three toes on each foot (two pointing forward and one pointing back). The body is stout with a large head and a long, deep-based bill. The upperparts are glossy black and unmarked except for some white bars on the primaries, and white outer tail feathers on an otherwise black tail. The underparts are white with dark-gray barring on the sides, and the throat and lower face are white, split by a dark malar stripe. The upper head is solid black on females, while males and juveniles have a bright-yellow crown patch. They use their strong bills to peck away tree bark to find insect larvae, especially that of beetles, commonly from trees affected by fire. The voice includes a quick chik call, various jumbled notes, and drumming. The adult male is illustrated.