description White-backed Woodpecker Overview
The White-backed Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird species distributed across the mature deciduous forests of the Palearctic region, ranging from Europe to Japan. It was first formally described by the German naturalist Johann Matthäus Bechstein in 1802. The species is easily identified by the prominent white lower back and barred flanks contrasting with its black wings. It is highly dependent on old-growth forests with abundant deadwood, relying on decaying trees to forage for wood-boring beetles and their larvae.
help White-backed Woodpecker FAQ
What is the scientific name of the White-backed Woodpecker?
Its scientific name is Dendrocopos leucotos. Johann Matthäus Bechstein formally described the species in 1802.
Where does the White-backed Woodpecker live?
It ranges across the Palearctic, from Europe through Russia and Asia to Japan. It is strongly associated with mature deciduous or mixed forests containing dead and decaying wood.
How can you identify a male White-backed Woodpecker?
The male usually has a red crown, while the adult female has a black crown. Both sexes show a pale back and strongly streaked underparts, with adults measuring roughly 24 to 26 centimeters.
Why does the White-backed Woodpecker need old forests?
It feeds and nests in dead or decaying trunks, which are more common in mature forests than in intensively managed woodland. Pairs may spend 2 to 4 weeks excavating a nest in a decaying tree.
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