Field Guide for all the Birds of North America
American Three-toed Woodpecker
Pic à dos rayé
Picoides dorsalis
Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities
Life, Habitat & Pictures of North American Woodpeckers
| B L | W W | W | Family | Latin Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.75" 22.2cm | 15" 38.1cm | 2.3 oz 65.2g | Picidae | Picoides dorsalis |
- Summer
- Year Around
- Winter
Distribution: The American Three-toed Woodpecker is one of two northern woodpeckers and the Black-backed Woodpecker is the other, that have three toes instead of the normal four toes on each foot. These woodpeckers prefer dead or burnt coniferous-type trees, where it is easier to pry the bark off instead of pecking holes into the tree. They are seen from Newfoundland and Labrador through the lower half of Quebec and throughout most of Ontario. They are also found across the northern half of the prairie provinces and into the Northwest and Yukon Territories, southern regions of Alaska, as well as throughout British Columbia and into the northwestern states.
References to Other Bird Sites:
Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.
ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.
I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.
