American Three-toed Woodpecker

Overview

The American three-toed woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) is a medium-sized woodpecker native to North America. It belongs to the family Picidae and has a maximum lifespan of six years in the wild.

Identification

• Length between 21–23 cm with a wingspan of 37–39 cm.
• Black head, wings and rump; white throat to belly; white flanks and back with black bars.
• Black tail with white outer feathers barred with black.
• Adult males possess a yellow cap.

Habitat

Breeding habitat consists of coniferous forests across western Canada, Alaska, and the western and extreme northeastern United States. The species relies on disturbed, old-growth forests and is strongly associated with active spruce beetle infestations.

Diet

Forages on conifers for wood-boring beetle larvae and other insects, occasionally consuming fruit and tree sap. These birds frequently move into areas with large numbers of insect-infested trees, often following a forest fire or flooding.

Did you know?

The pair excavates a new nest cavity in a dead conifer, live tree, or pole each year. Beetle-infested trees are critical not only for the woodpeckers but also for other species that depend on the cavities they create.