Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus

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.

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Distribution Maps

Black-backed Woodpecker winter distribution map
Black-backed Woodpecker winter distribution map
Black-backed Woodpecker distribution map
Black-backed Woodpecker distribution map