Black-backed woodpecker Picoides arcticus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 8 inches
• Medium-sized black and white woodpecker
• Black head
• Narrow postocular streak
• White moustachial stripe widens at rear margin and extends along lower margin of auriculars
• White throat, breast, and belly
• White flanks with black barring
• Entirely black back
• Black wings marked with white spots on flight feathers
• Black rump
• Black tail with white outer tail feathers

Adult male:

• Yellow cap at top of head with fuzzy edges

Similar species:

All other woodpecker have white or barred backs, and Downy and Hairy woodpeckers have unbarred flanks. Only Three-toed Woodpecker could be confused with the Black-backed Woodpecker. Black-backed Woodpecker is distinguished from the Three-toed Woodpecker by the entirely black back, postocular stripe which does not extend down neck, and wholly white outer tail feathers.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.