White-headed Woodpecker

Picoides albolarvatus

Only found in mountainous pine forests of the western United States and in a small region of British Columbia, white-headed woodpeckers are one of North America’s least numerous woodpeckers. Habitat loss, due to logging and removal of snags from coniferous woodlands, is a potential threat to the stability of the species’ population.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The White-headed Woodpecker is a striking bird with a glossy black body and distinctive white head. The wings display large white patches visible in flight. They have deep reddish-brown eyes, a short, sharp black bill, and gray feet and legs.

Males have a small red patch on the back of the head, which females lack. Males also tend to be slightly larger. Juveniles resemble adults but have a duller plumage and may show some brown tones on the body.

Size

Length

20cm to 23cm

Wingspan

40cm to 43cm

Weight

55g to 70g

Colours

Male Female

Primary Colour

Black White

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 White-headed Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The White-headed Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

White-headed Woodpeckers are found in the mountainous regions of western North America, from British Columbia to California and east to Idaho and western Nevada. They inhabit coniferous forests, showing a strong preference for pine-dominated ecosystems.

These woodpeckers are year-round residents throughout their range, with no significant seasonal movements. In the United States, they are most commonly observed in the Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, and other pine forests of the Pacific Northwest.

Elevation Range

900 to 3,200 meters

Climate zones

Temperate

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a White-headed 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