Red-cockaded woodpecker
Picoides borealis
Identification Tips:
- Small, black and white woodpecker
- Black cap and nape
- White postocular spot
- Dark moustachial stripe extends down side of neck
- Bold white cheeks and auriculars
- White underparts, streaked sparsely with black about sides of
breast and flanks
- Black back barred with white
- Black wings spotted with white in wing coverts and flight
feathers
- Black rump
- Black tail has white outer tail feathers barred with black
Adult male:
- Small red spot at rear margin of white face is rarely visible
Similar species:
Easily distinguished from all other small black and white
woodpeckers by entirely white cheek and auriculars. Note also the
barred back and streaked sides, which distinguish it from Downy and
Hairy Woodpecker, the only similar species likely to overlap in
range and habitat.