10/3/2023 0 Comments Woodpecker types![]() This is a confident species that doesn’t really shy away from humans and in answer to the question you are probably thinking about, yes, they do have 3 toes instead of 4 like most other Woodpeckers!īlack-backed Woodpecker – Picoides arcticusĬoloration and Markings: The Black-backed Woodpecker does indeed have a black back, with stripe-like barring just below the shoulder on the outer-edge of it’s medium-length, broad wings and this bird has a medium-length black tail which is white on the underside. Rather, the Three-toed will grab at pieces of bark, ripping off strips to check for delicious beetle larvae. Another odd characteristic is that you won’t hear them rat-a-tat-tapping at trees, as these Woodpeckers don’t bore into the wood. When you first spot one, you might think that you are looking at a plastic bird that someone has placed in a tree to attract other birds, this is because the American Three-toed Woodpecker is extremely adept at remaining completely still. Their diet of Spruce beetle larva is considered a boon for the environment, as these beetles can do a lot of damage unchecked. With a lifespan of about 12 years, American Three-toed Woodpeckers are uncommon but they are out there just waiting for a lucky birder to spot them. Often spotted a little bit North of Michigan, these birds do visit Michigan proper and they have a higher tolerance for cold that most woodpeckers. More about the American Three-toed Woodpecker They are especially fond of coniferous forests as well.ĭiet: While they mainly dine on the larvae of wood-boring beetles, these Woodpeckers also eat caterpillars and other insects that they can catch. Habitat: These Woodpeckers love to spend time in wooded areas with burnt or dead trees. Size: These birds measure in at 8.3 to 9.1 inches in length and have wingspance of 14.6 to 15.3 inches wide. This bird has a medium-length black bill and if you see a yellow-patch on the forehead, then you are looking at a male. The belly and breast of this bird are white, with a flanking of black barring that is similar to zebra-stripes and facially, this bird has a white face with a black mustache-line, a black ‘bandit’ mask that goes to the back of the head, and a black crown. Make sure you keep reading for more detail on each species!Īmerican Three-toed Woodpecker – Picoides dorsalisĬoloration and Markings: The American Three-toed Woodpecker has a wide, white stripe going down it’s back, with medium-length black wings which sport white spots and a medium-length black tail which is white on the underside. We’ll let you know where they like to hide, what they like to eat, and give you a little bit of useful trivia about these wood-burrowing wonders. Let’s take a closer look at each of the individual species that call Michigan their full or part-time home. That’s pretty impressive and definitely a treat for Michigan birders. ![]() Without including Sapsuckers and Flickers there are 16 species of Woodpeckers found throughout North America and Michigan is a permanent or part-time home for 9 of them. We’ll tell you what they look like, what they like to eat, and some interesting facts about these fine feathered wood-drummers so that you can enjoy a better understanding of these amazing birds. Today we are going to talk about the types of Woodpeckers that you can find in Michigan and there are quite a lot of them. With 2 peninsulas containing lakes as well as flatland and hilly regions, a wide variety of environments are present that make this state such an attractive home for birds. With over 450 species of birds, the Great Lake state of Michigan has a truly diverse avian community.
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