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
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Credit: USFWS
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Credit: Steve Urszenyi
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Credit: Marcel Holyoak
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Credit: S. Fitzgerald
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Credit: Lesley Earle