The Black-backed Woodpecker [ Pictures for Easy Identification]

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Introduction

What the Black-backed Woodpecker Looks Like

The Black-backed Woodpecker has overall_color color of black and white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has above_color color of black.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has head color of black and yellow.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has face color of black and white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has below_color color of white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has undertail color of white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has back color of black.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has bill color of greyish.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has wing color of black and white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has belly color of white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has tail color of black.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has chest color of white.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has leg color of greyish.

The Black-backed Woodpecker has neck color of white.

Weight, Length, and Wingspan of the Black-backed Woodpecker

The length of the Black-backed Woodpecker is 9.1 inches (23.1 cm).

The weight of the Black-backed Woodpecker is from 2.1 ounces to 3.1 ounces (59.5 grams to 87.9 grams).

The wingspan of the Black-backed Woodpecker is from 15.8 inches to 16.5 inches (40.1 cm to 41.9 cm).

Pictures of the Black-backed Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker, Nipissing District by streamcruiser, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker by Kurayba, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Male Black-backed woodpecker by USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, black-backed woodpecker – newcomb, ny by ryan.f.mandelbaum, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker by Chuck Gates, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-Backed Woodpecker by iRonInk, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed woodpecker by cricketsblog, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black Backed Woodpecker by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black Back Woodpecker ?? by Michael Hart Photography, from flickr, licensed under CC
Black-backed Woodpecker
Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker by scorellis, from flickr, licensed under CC
male Black-backed Woodpecker
male Black-backed Woodpecker, Male Black-backed woodpecker by USFWS Pacific Southwest Region, from flickr, licensed under CC
male Black-backed Woodpecker
male Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker by Kurayba, from flickr, licensed under CC
male Black-backed Woodpecker
male Black-backed Woodpecker, Black-backed Woodpecker Closeup by Kurayba, from flickr, licensed under CC
juvenile Black-backed Woodpecker
juvenile Black-backed Woodpecker, black back woody juv by Upupa4me, from flickr, licensed under CC

Feeding Behavior of the Black-backed Woodpecker

A typical forager will carefully peel the bark off of dead trees while looking for insects.

May forage this way on fallen logs as well.

May gradually remove the bark from an entire snag.

Occasionally catches insects in flight, but also collects insects from the bark of living plants.

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What the Black-backed Woodpecker Likes to Eat

The Black-backed Woodpecker feeds on the following:

  • larvae of wood-boring beetles
  • insects
  • spiders
  • fruits and nuts

Where To Find the Black-backed Woodpecker

You can find the Black-backed Woodpecker in the following habitats:

  • Boreal forests of firs and spruces
  • areas of dead or dying conifer
  • burned or flooded areas with many standing dead trees
  • undamaged forests of pine, Douglas-fir, hemlock, tamarack, and spruce
  • lowlands
  • mountains