American Three-toed Woodpecker

Picoides dorsalis

This nimble forest dweller taps out a distinctive drumming pattern as it hunts for bark beetles across North America's boreal woodlands.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is a small, compact bird with striking black and white plumage. Its back is barred black and white, while the underparts are white with black barring on the sides. The head features a distinctive black and white pattern, with males sporting a yellow crown patch.

Females lack the yellow crown; instead, they have finely black and white streaked crowns. Juveniles resemble adults but may have a duller overall appearance and less defined markings.

Size

Length

21cm to 24cm

Wingspan

38cm to 42cm

Weight

50g to 70g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

Secondary Colour

Yellow

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Primary Colour (Female)

Black White

Beak Colour (Female)

Grey

Leg Colour (Female)

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The American Three-toed Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The American Three-toed Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

American Three-toed Woodpeckers inhabit coniferous forests across North America, from Alaska to Canada and the northern United States. They strongly prefer spruce, fir, and pine forests, particularly those affected by fire, disease, or insect outbreaks.

While generally non-migratory, some individuals may move to lower elevations or slightly southward during harsh winters. In the United States, they are most commonly found in the Rocky Mountains, northern New England, and the Upper Midwest.

Elevation Range

360 to 2,700 meters

Climate zones

Boreal, Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a American Three-toed Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons