Black-backed Woodpecker

The North American woodpecker is a sexually dimorphic species. Primarily foraging on burnt-forests, the woodpecker prefers open woodlands for nesting and thriving.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Piciformes
Family	Picidae
Genus	Picoides
Scientific Name	Picoides arcticus

Quick Information

Also Known as	Arctic three-toed woodpecker
Description	Size: Around 9.1 in (23 cm) Weight: 2.1-3.1 oz (61-88 g) Color: Black body, with white underside( throat to belly), white itsy-bitsy patterns on wings, male woodpeckers exhibit a yellow cap
Distribution	Canada, states like Minnesota, Alaska, Wisconsin, Upper Michigan, and American Northwest
Habitat	Boreal forests
Sounds & Calls	Sharp and single “pik”
Lifespan	6-8 years (estimated)
Diet	Woodboring beetles and bark beetles larvae
Adaptation	1. The claws are strong and the tail is stiff so the bird can firmly sit on the tree bark vertically   2. Both the skull and the beak of the bird are strong so that the bird can excavate the tree fast
Predators	Cooper’s Hawk, northern flying squirrels, and red squirrels
IUCN Conservation Status	Least concern

Behavior

• The black-backed woodpecker flak off the bark of dead trees to search for insects.
• Both male and female woodpeckers indulge in the excavation.

Mating and Reproduction

Either by emitting some harsh calls or some courtship gestures, the male and female woodpeckers mates. Next step is to make a nest at 20-15 in off the ground, on dead pine or spruce. This is mostly done by the male as the female gets ready for laying around 3-6 white eggs in the nest. The incubation period lasts for 12-14 days. It is a shared duty by both the parents and males are mostly incubating at night. The breed once in a year.

Life-cycle

Young hatchlings are fed by their parents with male woodpeckers fly out to collect food away from the nest. They might undertake several trips for gathering food for their offspring. The juveniles woodpeckers need around 25 days to fledge.

Interesting Fact

• The black-backed woodpecker has three-toed feet.

References

1. https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-backed-woodpecker
2. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-backed_Woodpecker/id
3. https://www.borealbirds.org/bird/black-backed-woodpecker
4. https://fieldguide.mt.gov/speciesDetail.aspx?elcode=ABNYF07090
5. https://www.sierraforestlegacy.org/FC_SierraNevadaWildlifeRisk/Black-backedWoodpecker.php
6. https://bwdmagazine.com/learn/black-backed-woodpecker/