Black-backed woodpeckers (Picoides arcticus) are a medium-sized woodpecker found primarily in the boreal forests of North America. They are highly specialized birds that rely on recently burned or insect-infested forests for their habitat. Let’s take a closer look at where these fascinating woodpeckers can be found.
Range and Distribution
The black-backed woodpecker has a wide but sporadic range across the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska. Their range extends from central Alaska across Canada to Newfoundland. They are also found in parts of the western United States including Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
Within their broad range, black-backed woodpeckers are limited to areas that have recently experienced large-scale disturbances like forest fires, insect outbreaks, or clear-cut logging. They thrive in the aftermath of these disturbances which create an abundance of their preferred habitat and food sources. As a result, their populations tend to be patchy and localized rather than evenly distributed across their range.
Canada
In Canada, black-backed woodpeckers inhabit the boreal forests from Yukon and Northwest Territories east to Labrador and Newfoundland. Their range covers most of the vast Canadian taiga.
They are found in every Canadian province and territory except for Prince Edward Island. The largest populations occur in regions like the central and southern Northwest Territories, northern Alberta, northern Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec and Ontario which have extensive boreal habitat.
Alaska
Black-backed woodpeckers are common in the boreal forests of central and eastern Alaska. Their range covers much of mainland Alaska except for the coastal rainforests of the Panhandle region. They are absent from most of the Aleutian Islands but can occasionally occur on the larger, forested islands like Unalaska.
Contiguous United States
In the lower 48 states, black-backed woodpeckers live in isolated outposts of boreal forest along the spine of the Rocky Mountains and the Cascade Range. They occur in parts of:
- Washington
- Oregon
- Idaho
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Colorado
- California
Outside of the mountainous west, small numbers of black-backed woodpeckers are also found in forested areas of southwest South Dakota, northern Minnesota and the upper peninsula of Michigan.
Preferred Habitat
Black-backed woodpeckers are strongly associated with recently burned boreal forests. Their ideal habitat is coniferous forest that has burned within the last 3 to 10 years. The abundance of dead and dying trees in burned areas provides an ample food source and nesting sites.
This species is sometimes nicknamed the “fire woodpecker” for its reliance on burned forests. As natural wildfires have declined from fire suppression efforts, black-backed woodpeckers have come to rely more on human-created burns and clear-cut logging areas which mimic the early stages of a burned forest.
Burned Forests
In areas recently burned by wildfire, black-backed woodpeckers will move in quickly to take advantage of the abundant food resources. Peak populations are reached around 3 to 5 years after a fire. Their numbers gradually decline as the forest recovers over the following decades.
They prefer larger burns over 20,000 acres in size and areas with a high density of dead and dying trees. The abundance of nesting and feeding sites in these disturbed areas allows black-backed woodpeckers to occur at some of the highest densities of any woodpecker species.
Insect-Infested Forests
Outbreaks of bark beetles and other tree-boring insects create ideal habitat for black-backed woodpeckers in a similar way to fire. Forests with extensive infestations and die-offs of trees provide an abundant food source.
In the western United States, spruce bark beetle outbreaks in high elevation Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir forests have allowed black-backed woodpecker populations to thrive. But as with fire, their numbers drop as the dead trees deteriorate over time.
Logged Forests
Areas of forest that have been recently clear-cut logged can also provide good habitat, especially if some dead trees are left standing. The abundance of downed logs and early successional vegetation supports their prey. However, the smaller scale of logging limits densities compared to burned areas.
Black-backed woodpeckers use clear-cuts more consistently in the eastern portion of their range where wildfires are less frequent. Logged areas help provide a mosaic of suitable habitat.
Unburned Forests
While strongly associated with disturbed areas, black-backed woodpeckers do occasionally use forested areas unaffected by fire, insects or logging. They prefer older-growth stands with a high density of dead and dying trees.
Windstorms, disease, and native beetle outbreaks create small patches of dead trees within unburned boreal forest stands. Black-backed woodpeckers can occur in low densities wherever these habitat components exist.
Key Habitat Components
The key habitat features that allow black-backed woodpeckers to thrive are:
- An abundance of recently dead or dying coniferous trees
- Presence of bark beetle larvae and other wood-boring insect prey
- Open understory below the canopy
- Availability of nesting sites in dead tree snags
- Downed logs and woody debris
- Early successional vegetation
As long as these elements are present, black-backed woodpeckers can occupy a site. But their numbers eventually drop as dead trees decay and the forest matures.
Elevation Range
Black-backed woodpeckers are found at elevations ranging from sea level to the tree line. At higher latitudes, they mainly inhabit low-elevation boreal forests.
In mountainous areas of the western United States, they occur at higher elevations in coniferous forests up to the subalpine zone. In California, they are found at elevations between 4,000 and 11,000 feet.
Their elevation range depends on the presence of suitable conifer forest habitat. In northern boreal regions, this habitat exists at low elevations. But further south, it shifts to higher mountain elevations.
Population Trends
Due to their specialized habitat needs, black-backed woodpecker populations are naturally patchy and unstable over time. Numbers fluctuate dramatically as forests go through cycles of fire, insect outbreaks, and regrowth.
When extensive areas of suitable habitat are present, populations can thrive. But at broader scales, their populations are limited by the availability of disturbed forest habitat.
Fire suppression and forest management practices have reduced the frequency of fires and modified insect outbreaks. There is evidence that populations have declined from historical levels in some regions.
However, black-backed woodpeckers remain locally common where suitable habitat exists. Their ability to take advantage of disturbed forests allows populations to persist across their range despite fluctuations.
Relationship with Fire
More than any other woodpecker, the black-backed is adapted to fire. They play a key ecological role as early colonizers of burned boreal forest.
Their ability to thrive in extensively burned forests is unique. Most bird populations decline after severe fire. But black-backed woodpeckers are able to take advantage of the habitat conditions.
Some key adaptations that allow them to specialize in burned forests include:
- The ability to excavate nest cavities in hard snags and partially burned trees
- Foraging skills suited to extracting larvae from underneath burned bark
- Tolerance of open, treeless conditions with no canopy cover
- Nomadic tendencies allowing them to track the occurrence of fires
As natural fire regimes have been altered by forest management, there is evidence that black-backed woodpecker populations have declined in some regions. Maintaining burned habitat will be important for the future of this fire-adapted species.
Conservation Status
The black-backed woodpecker has a large range and populations remain robust over much of its boreal forest breeding grounds. Its ability to take advantage of disturbed areas also helps maintain populations.
As a result, its global conservation status is classified as “Least Concern” by the IUCN Red List. But there is concern that fire suppression and changes in logging practices could negatively impact populations in the future.
This woodpecker is considered a “Management Indicator Species” in U.S. national forests where it occurs. Land management plans aim to maintain suitable habitat for the species.
Ongoing forest management that promotes natural disturbance cycles will be important for maintaining viable populations across the black-backed woodpecker’s range. Protecting existing suitable habitat and allowing new habitat to develop through fire and beetle outbreaks will benefit the species.
Conclusion
In summary, the black-backed woodpecker is found primarily in the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the western United States. They rely on disturbed forest habitat created by fire, insect outbreaks, and logging.
Maintaining populations of this specialized bird relies on allowing these natural forest disturbance cycles to occur. While adaptable in many ways, the black-backed woodpecker serves as an indicator of healthy dynamic boreal forest ecosystems.
