23-25 cm (9-10") Uncommon. Boreal coniferous forests; especially on dead trees in spruce bogs and burns.
Uniformly black back; black head; barred sides; white underside. Male has a yellow crown; females lack this yellow.
Usually shy and inconspicuous. Forages by peeling large patches of bark off dead trees.
Similar but even less common Three-toed Woodpecker has a barred black-and-white back.
Song: short sharp "pik" call.
Videos
Images
![Male - Brunswick, Vermont, US - June 8, 2009](https://res-2.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--zjYx88is--/q_auto/f_auto/t_square_crop_160/3220-black-backed-woodpecker.jpg?_a=BAAAV6E0)
Credit: USFWS
![Male - Bat Lake Trail in Algonquin Park, Ontario](https://res-5.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--QINpWZfr--/q_auto/f_auto/t_square_crop_160/3219-black-backed-woodpecker.jpg?_a=BAAAV6E0)
Credit: Steve Urszenyi
![Female -Yuba Pass - Sattley, California, US - June 15, 2005](https://res-5.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--uZIK93FR--/q_auto/f_auto/t_square_crop_160/3221-black-backed-woodpecker.jpg?_a=BAAAV6E0)
Credit: Marcel Holyoak
![Female - Timberlost, Michigan, US - June 23, 2007](https://res-1.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--iZTCfVOd--/q_auto/f_auto/t_square_crop_160/3223-black-backed-woodpecker.jpg?_a=BAAAV6E0)
Credit: S. Fitzgerald
![Female](https://res-3.cloudinary.com/ebirdr/image/upload/s--U_TjvBRZ--/q_auto/f_auto/t_square_crop_160/3747-black-backed-woodpecker.jpg?_a=BAAAV6E0)
Credit: Lesley Earle