Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus Order: PICIFORMES Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Black-backed Woodpecker Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Brown or gray-brown in hatch year and early second year birds developing to red-brown in older birds.
  • Head Pattern: Capped, Striped, Special (unique patterns or features), Malar or malar stripe
  • Crown Color: Yellow
  • Forehead Color: Black
  • Nape Color: Black
  • Throat Color: White
  • Cere color: No Data
Splitbar

Recommended Products:

Clingers Only Feeder
Weather resistant inexpensive feeder is ideal for small birds.
Suet Delight
Easy to hang and maintain, holds all kinds of packaged suet.
Ultimate Woodpecker Feeder
Only allows woodpeckers to feed made of Inland Cedar.
The No-No Copper Feeder
Beautiful copper feeder holds 2.5 lbs of sunflower seeds.
Attracting Clingers
Black-backed Woodpecker Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 24 cm (9.5 in)
  • Weight: 71 g (2.5 oz)
  • Size: Size 3. Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color: White, Black, Yellow
  • Underparts: White with black barring on flanks.
  • Upperparts: Black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Black-backed Woodpecker Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates powerful flaps with glides.
  • Wingspan Range: 43 cm (17 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Solid
  • Upper Tail: Black with white outer feathers.
  • Under Tail: Black with white outer feathers.
  • Leg Color: Gray
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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Picoides arcticus
Length9.5 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Black-backed Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker: Small woodpecker with black back, black wings with white spots on flight feathers, barred flanks, white underparts. Head has a conspicuous white cheek mark and yellow crown. Tail is black with white outer tail feathers. Black bill is long and stout. Legs and feet are gray.

● Song: "pick", "chik", "kik"

● Foraging & Feeding: Black-backed Woodpecker: Diet includes mainly insects such as wood-boring beetles, grubs, weevils, ants, other beetles, and spiders. Also feeds on berries and other small fruits, acorns, and nuts.

● Breeding & nesting: Black-backed Woodpecker: Two to six white eggs are laid in a cavity excavated in a tree, often close to the ground. Incubation ranges from 12 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents.

● Similar species: Black-backed Woodpecker: American Three-toed Woodpecker has black-and-white bars down center of back. Hairy Woodpecker has white back and unmarked white underparts.

Flight Pattern

Alternates powerful flaps with glides.
Black-backed Woodpecker Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Black-backed Woodpecker: Resident in Alaska, Canada, and northern U.S. Preferred habitats include coniferous forests in the boreal zone, especially where burned, logged, or swampy.
BreedingMonogamous
PopulationUncommon to fairly common
MigrationNonmigratory
Weight2.5 Ounces