White-headed Woodpecker (Dryobates albolarvatus)

Abstract

The White-headed Woodpecker is currently placed in the genus Picoides, a genus poorly understood phylogenetically and subject to frequent revisions over the years (Garrett et al. 1996). Eight other Picoides species occur in North America: Ladderbacked (P. scalaris), Red-cockaded (P. borealis), Nuttall's (P. nuttallii), Strickland's (P. stricklandi), Downy (P. pubescens), Hairy (P. villosus), Three-toed (P. tridactylus), and Black-backed (P. arcticus) woodpeckers (AOU 1998). Two subspecies of White-headed Woodpecker are recognized: one occurring in the mountains of southern California (P. albolarvatus gravirostris), and the other from British Columbia to the Sierra Nevada in central California (P. albolarvatus albolarvatus) (Garrett et al. 1996; Cannings 1998). Description The White-headed Woodpecker is unique among North American woodpeckers in having entirely black body plumage and tail, with only the face, throat, crown, and large patch at the base of the primaries white. Males have a red patch at the back of the head; juvenile males have a variable patch of red on the crown (Garrett et al. 1996; NGS 1999). Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifruga columbiana), a corvid with pale grey head, and woodpecker-like bill and behaviour, is occasionally mistaken for the Whiteheaded Woodpecker (Cannings 2000). Distribution Global The White-headed Woodpecker is restricted to western North America, ranging from extreme southcentral British Columbia southward, primarily east of the Cascades, to southern California (Garrett et al. 1996). British Columbia The White-headed Woodpecker is a very rare resident in the Okanagan Valley from Naramata south, and occasionally resides in the Similkameen Valley, Grand Forks area, and the Kootenays (Weber and Cannings 1976; Cannings et al. 1987; Campbell et al. 1988; Campbell et al. 1990). Sightings in suitable habitat have also been reported from Lytton, Manning Park, Bummers Flats north of Cranbrook, and south of Golden but have not been substantiated by detailed descriptions or photos (Weber and Cannings 1976; Campbell et al. 1990).

Between-Year Breeding Dispersal by White-Headed Woodpeckers: A Caution About Using Color Bands to Estimate Survival

“…They are residents from south-central British Columbia, north-central Washington and northern and western Idaho south through eastern and southwest Oregon to southern California and west-central Nevada (AOU 1983, Garrett et al 1996. White-headed woodpeckers range from very rare in British Columbia to common further south in their range in California.…”

“…v White-headed woodpeckers lack strong excavating ability and rarely forage on completely dead trees. They typically feed on insects during the spring and early summer by gleaning and pecking (Garrett et al 1996). The woodpeckers switch to ponderosa pine or sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana) seeds from late summer through the winter (Bull 1980, Dixon 1995a, Ligon 1973.…”

“…The White-headed woodpecker is generally sedentary and usually occupies the same home range throughout the year and return to the same breeding site year after year; however, limited wandering may occur during the non-breeding season to exploit locally and temporarily available abundant food sources of pine seeds (Garrett et al 1996).…”

“…Local population declines have occurred following loss of large open ponderosa pine forests from logging and catastrophic fire, and loss of open habitat due to fire suppression (Garrett et al 1996, Marshal 2003.…”

“…It was later placed in the genus Dendrocopos. New World forms of Dendrocopus are now placed in the genus Picoides (Garrett et al 1996).…”