American Three-toed Woodpecker

Picoides dorsalis

The Three-toed Woodpecker can often be overlooked, as it often may cling to a tree motionless for long periods of time.  They are strongly associated with spruce forests, and are very found of the spruce bark beetle.  Until 2005, the species was considered to be the same as the Eurasian three-toed Woodpecker (now Picoides tridactylus).

Habitat: Found in conifer forests of the West, most often being associated with spruce.  They are also very often found in areas with dead standing trees, such as those killed by fire or flood, as wood-boring insect infestations tend to favor these areas.

Diet: Primarily feeds on the larvae of wood-boring beetles. Also eats other insects, fruit, berries, and will occasionally consume sap from sapsucker bore wells.

Behavior: Forages on conifer trees, often scaling off the bark to gain access to insects underneath. 

Nesting: June and July

Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey map

Song: Usually silent, although with an occasional pick.  

Migration: Most are permanent residents, although those in northern Canada may move southward a short distance in winter and others may move from higher to lower elevations.

Similar Species: Black-backed Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker

Conservation Status: Numbers generally stable, although they can fluctuate with availability of insects.

Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Three-toed Woodpecker

2) eNature.com: Three-toed Woodpecker

3) Cornell University's "All About Birds" - Three-toed Woodpecker

Photo Information: December 13th, 2003 -- Spearfish Canyon -- Doug Backlund