American Three-toed Woodpecker
Picoides dorsalis
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
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
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
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The American Three-toed Woodpecker displays remarkable agility in its specialised foraging technique. Its ability to cling motionless to tree trunks, rotate its fourth toe for better grip, and efficiently scale bark demonstrates high manoeuvrability and precision in movement.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Whilst not exceptionally strong compared to larger woodpeckers, this species possesses sufficient strength to excavate nesting cavities in dead or diseased trees and effectively remove bark scales. Its compact size suggests moderate strength relative to its body.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Highly adaptable, this woodpecker thrives in various coniferous habitats from 360 to 2,700 metres. Its unique foraging method allows it to access prey other woodpeckers might miss, and it readily exploits areas affected by fire, disease, or insect outbreaks.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Generally non-aggressive, the American Three-toed Woodpecker is typically solitary or found in pairs. Whilst they maintain year-round territories, there's no evidence of exceptional aggression towards other species or conspecifics beyond normal territorial behaviour.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
This species demonstrates good endurance, maintaining territories year-round in harsh boreal and temperate climates. Their ability to forage efficiently for wood-boring insects and survive in high-elevation forests suggests robust stamina. However, some individuals may move to lower elevations in severe winters, indicating limits to their cold tolerance.
Diet
The American Three-toed Woodpecker primarily feeds on wood-boring beetle larvae, especially spruce and engraver beetles. It also consumes other insects, spiders, and occasionally tree sap.
Their specialized foraging technique of bark-scaling allows them to access prey that other woodpeckers might miss.
Behaviour
American Three-toed Woodpeckers are known for their unique foraging technique of flaking off bark scales rather than drilling holes. They often cling motionless to tree trunks, blending in with the bark.
These birds are generally solitary or found in pairs, maintaining territories year-round in their preferred coniferous habitats.
Vocalisation
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding season for American Three-toed Woodpeckers typically begins in late April to early May. Pairs form monogamous bonds and may remain together for multiple seasons. Males initiate courtship with drumming displays and vocalizations.
Nests are excavated in dead or diseased coniferous trees, usually at heights of 1.5 to 15 meters. The female lays 3 to 4 glossy white eggs in the unlined cavity. Both parents share incubation duties.
Incubation lasts about 12-14 days, with nestlings fledging after 22-26 days. Parents continue to feed and care for fledglings for several weeks after they leave the nest.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, the American Three-toed Woodpecker faces potential threats from habitat loss due to logging and climate change.
Conservation efforts focus on preserving mature coniferous forests and maintaining natural disturbance regimes, such as wildfires, which create ideal habitats.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them in mature coniferous forests, especially areas with recent burns or beetle infestations.
- Listen for their distinctive drumming, which is slower and more irregular than other woodpeckers.
- Observe tree trunks for signs of bark scaling, a telltale sign of their presence.
- In the USA and Canada, focus on boreal forests and high-elevation coniferous woodlands.
Additional Information
Quick Facts
Other names:
Northern Three-toed Woodpecker
Family:
PicidaeAverage Lifespan
6 years
Max Lifespan
11 years
Predators
Did You Know?
- They can rotate their fourth toe backwards, effectively mimicking a three-toed stance for a better grip on tree trunks.
- These woodpeckers are crucial in controlling bark beetle populations in coniferous forests.
- They are among the few North American woodpeckers lacking any red plumage.
FAQs
What attracts American Three-toed Woodpeckers?
American three-toed woodpeckers are strongly associated with infestations of western pine and spruce beetles and do particularly well in areas where large-scale outbreaks of these insects are present, traveling from considerable distances to colonize suitable new landscapes.
What trees do American Three-toed Woodpeckers prefer?
Popular tree choices for nesting sites include whitebark, lodgepole, ponderosa, jack pine, American and western larch, black and Engelmann spruce, Douglas-fir, western red Cedar, quaking aspen, paper birch and alder.
Do American Three-toed Woodpeckers harm trees?
American three-toed woodpeckers drill into tree trunks and create cavities that can potentially weaken a tree. However, excavation occurs on dead or dying trees, especially those that are infested with beetles.
The species is known to thrive in areas where beetle populations are ravaging through woodlands and are therefore a vital presence in keeping these outbreaks under control.
Do American Three-toed Woodpeckers go to bird feeders?
American three-toed woodpeckers are unlikely to be a regular at your backyard feeder, preferring instead to forage deep in woodlands for bark beetles and their larvae.
What is the difference between a black-backed woodpecker and an American three-toed woodpecker?
Both black-backed and American three-toed woodpeckers are similar in appearance and share the distinguishing feature of having three toes. Both species have mainly black and white plumage, with a bright yellow cap.
In American three-toed woodpeckers, the back is heavily barred with black and white, while in black-backed woodpeckers, the back is solid black.
References
- 1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Picoides tridactylus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22727137A87304270.
View source - 2
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View source
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