Twelve representatives of the family Picidae from five genera breed in British Columbia (Campbell et al. 1990). This section provides an overview of the current provincial knowledge on each species, including information on general description, distribution, range, habitat utilization, and status. Much of the information presented in the species accounts is based on Campbell et al. (1990). Biogeoclimatic zone and ecoprovince codes follow Meidinger and Pojar (1991) and Demarchi (1995, 1996). Information regarding home range size and territory size per individual for each species was derived from studies conducted outside of British Columbia. Red and Blue list designations are from 1998 Red and Blue Lists (B.C. Ministry of Environment Lands and Parks (MELP) 1999).
2.1 Lewis's Woodpecker |
B-LEWO |
Physical Characteristics: A medium-sized woodpecker averaging 27 cm in length. Adults have glossy greenish-black upper parts, a grey collar and breast, a dark red facial patch and a pinkish-red belly. Juveniles lack the collar and red face; the belly may be only faintly pink. Flight is slow, with even, crow-like flapping.
Vocalizations: Generally silent but occasionally emits a harsh churr or chee-ur and single yick notes when alarmed.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters from southern B.C. to northern Mexico and western Texas. Spring migration extends from early April to mid May; autumn migration commences in late August and carries through to early October.
The Lewis's Woodpecker is a migrant and summer visitant locally distributed across southern B.C. from Vancouver Island east to the Kootenays and north to the Chilcotin-Caribou Basin. Very rare summer visitant to the south coast and to the interior north of 52° N latitude. In winter, uncommon in the Okanagan and very rare on the south coast. Found in open forest and bottomland from sea level to 1,150 m elevation.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, BG, PP, IDF, ICH, SBPS, SBS.
Ecoprovinces: CAM, GED, SOI, SIM, CEI, SBI.
Feeding: Forages in open woodlands and riparian areas usually with < 30% canopy cover. In spring and summer, it feeds mainly on flying insects which are caught on the wing or by hawking from exposed perches. Insects are also caught on the ground, in low brush, and are occasionally gleaned from tree surfaces. Fruits and berries comprise the main diet in late summer and fall, while winter food consists mainly of acorns and commercial nuts or corn. Shells and stores acorns in bark crevices.
Reproduction: Preferred breeding habitat is open ponderosa pine forest from 275 to 950 m elevation. Other habitats are deciduous riparian woodlands and selectively logged or burned coniferous forest. Orchards, grassland, pasture, and urban areas are rarely used for breeding. Usually nests in cavities excavated by other woodpecker species (e.g., Northern Flicker), but natural cavities are occasionally used. Nest cavities are excavated in large (i.e., >30 cm dbh) deciduous and coniferous trees. Both dead and living trees with decaying centers are used, although snags, often partially stripped of bark are preferred. Nest heights range from 1 to 30.5 m, with most between 3.5 and 9 m. Normally lays 4-6 eggs with a breeding period extending from early May to late July.
Roosting: In winter, roosts in mature deciduous and coniferous trees and snags similar to those used for nesting.
Home Range Size: 8-18 ha per individual.
Territory Size: 6 ha per individual.
The Lewis's Woodpecker formerly bred from south-eastern Vancouver Island east through the lower mainland and the Fraser Valley, and east of the Cascades from Princeton, throughout the Okanagan Valley, north to Williams Lake and east to Revelstoke and Elko. It no longer breeds in coastal B.C. and has experienced steady population declines in the southern interior since 1980. The Lewis's Woodpecker is suspected to still be in decline throughout much of its range in B.C. and it is on the 1998 blue-list. Population declines have been attributed to loss of suitable nest and food storage trees and loss of riparian and burned ponderosa pine habitats.
Bent 1939; Bock 1970; Thomas 1979; Short 1982; Block and Brennan 1987; Galen 1989; Campbell et al. 1990; Siddle and Davidson 1991; Marshall 1992a; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-YBSA |
Physical Characteristics: A small to medium-sized woodpecker averaging 22 cm in length. Adults have a red forehead, a black and white head, a black chest band separating the throat from a yellow belly, a long white wing patch, a barred back and a white rump. Males have a red throat. Juveniles are brownish and resemble adults by first spring.
Vocalizations: Calls are variable and include a whining whaee. Performs ritual tapping in distinctive rhythms (3-5 taps given in quick succession, followed by a pause, 2 taps, pause, 2 taps, pause, etc.).
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters from the southern part of its breeding range southward. Spring migration begins in late April, with most birds arriving in early May and leaving by late August.
Migrant and summer visitant distributed throughout the north-east corner of B.C. from south-east of MacKenzie to Vanderhoof and Stoner in the south extending north through the Peace Lowlands and the boreal forest in the north. Frequents deciduous and mixed deciduous-coniferous forests.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: SBS, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: TAP, BOP, SBI, NBM.
Feeding: Forages in mixed and deciduous forests. Drills rows of squarish holes into live conifers and hardwoods and feeds on sap and on insects attracted to the sap wells. Diet consists of insects, tree sap, bast, cambium, fruit and berries.
Reproduction: Prefers riparian forest or deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous forests from 380 to 730 m elevation. Nest sites tend to be at the forest edge adjacent to lakes, ponds, marshes and backwater river channels. Excavates its nest cavities in deciduous trees >25 cm dbh. Live nest trees infected with fungal heartrots are preferred. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 2.4 to 12.2 m, with most between 3.4 and 6.1 m. There are no records available for clutch size in B.C. but a clutch size of 5-6 eggs is reported for birds breeding in other parts of North America. The breeding period extends from late May to early August in B.C.
Roosting: Excavates its own roosts in trees similar to those used for nesting.
Uncommon migrant and summer visitant to the Alberta Plateau, Fort Nelson Lowlands, and Liard Basin; locally very rare in the Northern Mountains and Plateau regions.
Bent 1939; Lawrence 1967; Tate 1973; Williams 1975, 1980; Ehrlich et al. 1988; Campbell et al. 1990; Winkler et al. 1995.
2.3 Red-naped Sapsucker |
B-RNSA |
Physical Characteristics: A medium-sized woodpecker averaging 22 cm in length. Adults have a red forehead and a variable red patch on the nape. Chin and throat are red in males; females have a white chin and a variable amount of red on the throat. Otherwise resembles the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker with a long white wing patch, a barred back and a white rump. Juveniles are brownish and attain adult plumage by the first fall.
Vocalizations: Calls are variable and include a mewing meeah. Drumming consists of an initial burst, followed by irregular slower bursts of 2-3 strokes.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters from the southern portion of the breeding range to northern Mexico. The main spring influx occurs in April and birds leave from late August through mid-September.
The Red-naped Sapsucker is widely distributed across southern B.C. east of the Pacific and Cascade ranges and north through the Chilcotin-Cariboo Basin and the Nechako Plateau. Very rare west of the Pacific and Cascade ranges.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CWH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS.
Ecoprovinces: GED, CAM, CEI, SOI, SIM.
Feeding: Feeds in deciduous and mixed woodlands, usually containing aspen. Drills rows of squarish holes in deciduous and coniferous trees and feeds on sap and on insects attracted to the sap wells. Diet consists of insects and tree sap, supplemented by bast, cambium, fruit and berries.
Reproduction: Widespread breeder in a variety of deciduous and mixed woodlands from 300 to 1,300 m elevation. Nest trees are often on the edge of woodlands adjacent to water bodies such as streams, ponds, sloughs, lakes or other open areas such as road edges, logging slashes, transmission line right-of-ways or mountain meadows. Most nests are in deciduous trees but coniferous trees are also used. Living trees are preferred for nesting and this trend is reversed for coniferous trees. Nest tree diameters and nest hole heights range from 15 to 64 cm dbh and 0.5 to 22.9 m, respectively. Nest cavity entrances are rounded. Normally lays 4-5 eggs with a breeding period extending from May to early August.
Roosting: Excavates its own roost cavities in deciduous trees > 25 cm dbh.
Uncommon to fairly common migrant and summer visitant to the south-central and southern interior of B.C. Very rare vagrant west of the Pacific and Cascade ranges.
Bent 1939; Crocket and Hadow 1975; Short 1982; Cannings et al. 1987; Campbell et al. 1990; Tobalske 1992; Daily et al. 1993; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-RBSA |
Physical Characteristics: A small to medium-sized woodpecker averaging 22 cm in length. Adults have a red head, nape, throat and breast, a large white wing patch and a white rump in flight. The back is black and lightly spotted with yellow or white depending on subspecies. Briefly held juvenile plumage is brownish, showing little or no red.
Vocalizations: Calls include a nasal mewing note or squeal slurring downward: cheerrr or chee-aa. Drumming is several rapid thumps followed by 2-3 slow irregular strokes.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters throughout the breeding range except in the B.C. interior. Wintering birds leave southern Vancouver Island during spring and move into interior breeding areas mainly through April and into May. Birds wintering on Vancouver Island appear to return in early September.
The Red-breasted Sapsucker is a widely distributed resident along the coast and a widely distributed migrant and summer visitant to the central interior between 52° and 56° N latitude. It is more localized in the north-western portions of the province and is occasionally sighted in the southern interior ecoprovince. Found from sea level to 1,950 m elevation in coniferous and deciduous woodlands.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, MH, BG, PP, IDF, ICH, SBS, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: GED, SOI, SIM, CAM, CEI, SBI, BOP, NBM.
Feeding: Forages in a variety of forested habitats. Drills rows of holes in coniferous and deciduous trees and feeds on sap and on insects attracted to the sap wells. Occasionally strips bark. Insects (especially ants) make up >50% of the diet, and sap, bast, cambium and berries make up the remainder.
Reproduction: Breeds from sea level to 1,220 m in a variety of wooded habitats. Found in coniferous forests, deciduous and riparian woods and cottonwood bottomland. Breeding habitat also includes orchards, power line rights-of-ways and forest burns. Nests are often located in edge habitat adjacent to a marsh, lake, estuary or other open areas. Excavates its own nest cavities in dead and living deciduous or coniferous trees >25 cm dbh. Deciduous nest trees are preferred, especially at lower elevations. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 1.8 to 24.3 m, with most between 3.4 and 9.1 m. Lays 4-7 eggs with a breeding period extending from early May to late July.
Roosting: Excavates its own roost cavities in decaying trees >25 cm dbh.
Uncommon resident in coastal B.C. including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Uncommon to rare migrant and summer visitant to the central interior and the north-western part of the province and casual in the Okanagan valley.
Bent 1939; Short 1982; Campbell et al. 1990; Winkler et al. 1995.
2.5 Williamson's Sapsucker |
B-WISA |
Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized woodpecker averaging 23 cm in length. Males have a black head with narrow white stripes, a bright red chin and throat, a black back and breast, a yellow belly, a white rump and a large white wing patch. The female has a brown head, wings barred white and dark brown, a large dark patch on the breast, a white rump and a variably yellow belly. Juveniles resemble adults but are duller, and attain adult plumage in their first winter.
Vocalizations: Calls include a weak wheezy whang and a number of rolling R's beginning with a gutteral kkrrr. Tapping is distinctive and consists of a series of blows in irregular or broken rhythm.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters from Arizona to central Mexico. Birds arrive on the breeding grounds by mid-April and most leave by mid-September.
Uncommon migrant and summer visitant to the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau and Kootenay Trench regions. Frequents montane forests primarily of the interior Douglas-fir zone from 310 to 1,425 m elevation.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: IDF, MS, ESSF.
Ecoprovinces: SOI, SIM.
Feeding: Prefers to forage in live coniferous trees (e.g., Douglas fir and western larch) in open forests (<75% canopy cover). Gleans insects from sap wells and by pecking under loose bark. Diet consists of tree sap, phloem and insects (especially ants during the nestling period).
Reproduction: Breeds in western larch, interior Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forests between 850 and 1,300 m elevation. Nests mainly in large coniferous trees (>30 cm dbh) but may also nest in groves of trembling aspen. Requires live or recently dead trees with advanced heartwood decay for cavity excavation. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 2 to 18 m. Normally lays 5-6 eggs with a breeding period extending from May to late July.
Roosting: Excavates its own roost cavities in trees of similar size and species composition to those used for nesting.
Territory Size: 4 ha per individual.
Uncommon migrant and summer visitant to the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau and the Kootenay trench regions of the province. The nataliae (Rocky Mountain) subspecies is thought to be in decline and has been placed on the 1998 red-list. The thyroideus (Thompson-Okanagan) subspecies is thought to be more stable and appears on the 1998 provincial blue list. Removal of old trees and conversion of old-growth and mature stands to managed stands of even-aged young trees are thought to be responsible for population declines.
Crockett and Hadow 1975; Crockett and Hansley 1977; Thomas 1979; Short 1982; Cannings et al. 1987; Campbell et al. 1990; Marshall 1992b; Conway and Thomas 1993; Cooper 1993; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-DOWO |
Physical Characteristics: A small woodpecker averaging 17 cm in length. Adults have a white back and underside, a black and white head, and black wings barred with white. White outer tail feathers are spotted with black. Males have a red patch on the back of the head.
Vocalizations: Calls include a flat pik call and a one to two-second burst of notes descending in pitch, resembling the whinny of a horse. Drumming consists of a one- or two-second burst of pecking on a resonant surface; a softer sound but similar to that of the Hairy Woodpecker.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters throughout the breeding range. Records suggest that birds may move from higher elevations to valley bottoms and partially withdraw from northern areas in winter.
Widely distributed resident throughout the province south of 57° N latitude. Sparsely distributed in northern regions of the province and rarely seen on the Queen Charlotte Islands. Found from sea level to 1,250 m elevation in deciduous and mixed forests.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, ESSF, SWB BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: GED, CAM, CEI, SOI, SIM, SBI, BOP, TAP, NBM.
Feeding: Forages on coniferous and deciduous trees usually < 25 cm dbh and frequents bird feeders, especially in winter. Removes insects from bark surfaces and uses surface (e.g., flaking, pecking) and sub-surface foraging techniques (e.g., drilling, excavation) to penetrate under bark where beetle larvae and ants are extracted. Diet consists predominantly of insects, supplemented by fruit, seeds and sap from sapsucker holes.
Reproduction: Breeds in deciduous forests, bottomland, mixed woods, riparian thickets, forest burns, logged areas, gardens and orchards from sea level to 1,100 m elevation. Nest cavities are excavated primarily in deciduous trees. Dead or dying trees with fungal heart rot are preferred and nest tree diameters range from 19.1 to 31.4 cm dbh with a mean of 26.3 cm dbh. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 0.9-30 m. Normally lays 4-5 eggs with a breeding period extending from late April to late July.
Roosting: Excavates roosting cavities in dead or decaying trees.
Territory Size: 4 ha per individual.
Status - Yellow
Rare to locally fairly common resident throughout B.C. south of 57°N latitude; very rare further north and casual on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Bent 1939; Lawrence 1967; Jackson 1970; Thomas 1979; Cannings et al. 1987; Harestad and Keisker 1989; Campbell et al. 1990; Winkler et al. 1995.
2.7 Hairy Woodpecker |
B-HAWO |
Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized woodpecker averaging 24 cm in length. Has a larger, thicker bill but is otherwise similar in appearance to the Downy Woodpecker with a white back and underside, a black and white head, black wings barred with white and a red patch on the back of males' head. Outer tail feathers are entirely white (with the exception of juveniles on the Queen Charlotte Islands). Juveniles lack barring on sides and have white spotting on the forehead. Juvenile males have red or orange streaking on the crown.
Vocalizations: Call is a loud, high-pitched peek and a slurred whinney. Drumming is loud with a rapid burst of rhythmic taps and a terminal slowdown.
Activity and Movement Patterns: During the winter months, birds may move from higher elevations to valley bottoms and partially withdraw from northern areas. Also uses residential areas more frequently in winter.
Widely distributed resident throughout most of B.C., including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Very rare in the north-west corner of the province. Occupies all forested zones from sea level to near 1,900 m elevation.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, MH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, ESSF, SWB, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: CAM, GED, CEI, SOI, SIM, SBI, BOP, TAP, NBM.
Feeding: Foraging habitats include mature coniferous forests, deciduous and mixed forests. In winter, also frequents openings such as meadows, marshes, ponds, logged or burned areas. Extracts insects from the subcambium layer using sub-surface foraging techniques (e.g., drilling, excavation). Diet consists mainly of insects and is occasionally supplemented by fruits and seeds.
Reproduction: Prefers mixed forests or forest edges, with most nest cavities excavated in living or dead deciduous trees. Cavities are occasionally excavated in fence posts, power poles; nest boxes are occasionally used. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 0.9 to 38 m, with most between 1.8 and 6.1 m. Normally lays 3-5 eggs with a breeding period extending from early April to late July.
Roosting: Roosting requirements are not well known but the Hairy Woodpecker is thought to use tree cavities for roosting.
Territory Size: 10 ha per individual.
Uncommon resident throughout most of B.C., including Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands; very rare in the north-west portion of the province. The picoideus subspecies (endemic to the Queen Charlotte Islands) is on the 1998 blue-list; the five other subspecies found in B.C. are reportedly stable and not listed.
Bent 1939; Lawrence 1967; Thomas 1979; Cannings et al. 1987; Morrison and With 1987; Campbell et al. 1990; Villard and Beninger 1993; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-WHWO |
Physical Characteristics: A medium-sized woodpecker averaging 24 cm in length. Adults have a white head and throat, a black body, and white wing patches. Males have a red patch on the back of the head.
Vocalizations: Calls include a grating two-noted peek-it and a sharp chick, sometimes rapidly repeated chick-ik-ik-ik. Drumming is a short, even series.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Casual in winter in the north Okanagan valley and east of the Okanagan.
Very rare resident in the Okanagan valley and irregular summer visitant to the Similkameen. Restricted to the Thompson-Okanagan Plateau and Southern Columbia Mountains regions from Manning Park east to Creston and north to Falkland. Frequents ponderosa pine, mixed pine-Douglas-fir and Engelmann spruce-lodgepole pine forests to 1,300 m elevation.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, ESSF.
Ecoprovinces: SOI, SIM.
Feeding: Forages in open ponderosa pine and mixed pine-fir forests. In late summer, fall and early winter, usually forages in the crowns of conifers for large ponderosa pine seeds. In early summer, forages mainly for insects (e.g., ants, woodboring beetles, spiders, fly larvae) on the lower portions of large, live ponderosa pine trees.
Reproduction: Breeds only in open-canopied (< 70% canopy cover) stands of mature ponderosa pine forests from 450 to 600 m elevation. Nests are often located in or on the edge of forest clearings. Excavates cavities in dead or dying trees, with a preference for large ponderosa pine (mean dbh = 60 cm). Leaning or broken-topped snags or stumps are commonly used. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 2.5 to 9 m. A clutch of 4-5 eggs is layed during the breeding period extending from mid-May to late July.
Roosting: Roosts in cavities and under sloughing bark of large (mean = 61 cm dbh) living or dead ponderosa pine.
Home Range Size: Reported as 101-202 and 59-193 ha per individual.
Status - Red
The southern interior represents the northernmost limit of the White-headed Woodpecker's range. It is therefore considered a peripheral species in B.C. and appears on the 1998 red-list. It is a very rare resident in the Okanagan valley, casual in the Similkameen valley and east of the Okanagan. Logging and fire suppression in the southern interior, resulting in dense, young stands with reduced snag densities and poor seed production are thought to negatively impact this species. Despite apparently recent sightings of White-headed Woodpeckers in the South Okanagan, call playback surveys conducted during 1996 and 1997 could not locate any individuals (B.C. Conservation Data Center).
Ligon 1973; Weber and Cannings 1976; Morrison and With 1987; Milne and Hejl 1989; Mathews 1990; Cannings 1991; Frederick and Moore 1991; Blair 1993; Winkler et al. 1995.
2.9 Three-toed Woodpecker |
B-TTWO |
Physical Characteristics: A medium-sized woodpecker averaging 22 cm in length. Adults have black and white barring on the flanks, a variable barring down the back and a white breast, throat and belly. The head is black with a white stripe and males have a yellow crown. Has three rather than four toes.
Vocalizations: Call is a single pik, softer and higher pitched than that of the Black-backed Woodpecker. A fast, short rattle call is also used. Drums frequently and drumming is slower with shorter bursts and fewer beats than that of the Black-backed Woodpecker.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Winters throughout its range.
Widely distributed resident throughout most of the province east of the coastal gap and the Pacific and Cascade ranges. Occurs locally on the south coast and Vancouver Island and is absent from the Queen Charlotte Islands. Found in coniferous forests from 450 to 2,100 m elevation.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, MH, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, ESSF, SWB, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: GED, CAM, SOI, CEI, SIM, SBI, BOP, TAP, NBM.
Feeding: Forages in spruce and true fir forests and in lodgepole pine and mixed forests. Feeds almost exclusively on insects (mostly wood-boring beetle larvae, but also eats caterpillars, ants and other woodboring insects). Uses mainly surface foraging techniques (e.g., flaking, scaling) to extract insects from beneath the bark. This species concentrates in forest burns and/or insect-infested areas to feed in winter. Dead or dying feeding trees are reportedly favoured.
Reproduction: Breeds in mature and overmature stands of coniferous forests from 520 to 1,690 m elevation. Dead or living conifers are preferred nest trees, but deciduous species are also used. Uses trees >30.5 cm dbh for nesting and those located near openings created by burns, clearcuts, ponds, lakes and bogs are typical. Nest cavity entrances are rounded and nest heights range from 1 to 24 m, with most between 1 and 4.6 m. A clutch of 3-4 eggs are layed during the breeding period extending from May to late July.
Roosting: Excavates roosting cavities in soft snags found in mature and overmature stands.
Home Range Size: 53-304 ha per individual.
Status - Yellow
Uncommon to rare resident throughout most of B.C. Very rare west of the coast ranges, including Vancouver Island and absent from the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Bent 1939; Yunick 1985; Bull et al. 1986; Goggans et al. 1987; Campbell et al. 1990; Marshall 1992c; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-BBWO |
Physical Characteristics: A medium-sized woodpecker averaging 24 cm in length. Adults have a solid black back, heavily barred sides, and a white belly, breast and throat. The head is black with white stripes and the male has a yellow crown. Has three toes rather than four.
Vocalizations: Call note is a single sharp metallic kik. Also has a rattle call similar but slower than that of the Three-toed Woodpecker. This species drums frequently with longer bursts and more beats than that of the Three-toed Woodpecker.
Activity and Movement Patterns: Probably winters throughout its range but records are scarce.
The Black-backed Woodpecker is resident and found locally east of the Coast Ranges. It is casual west of the Coast Ranges and absent from Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Islands. It frequents the subalpine, sub-boreal and boreal coniferous forests, and the higher elevations of the interior Douglas-fir and western hemlock forests from 335 to 1,400 m.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CWH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, ESSF, SWB, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: CAM, SOI, SIM, CEI, SBI, NBM, BOP, TAP.
Feeding: Forages in mature and overmature stands of lodgepole pine and mixed conifer stands dominated by lodgepole pine. Eats almost exclusively insects and in particular, wood-boring beetle larvae. It uses mainly surface foraging techniques (e.g., flaking, pecking) to extract insects from under the bark. Feeds in recently dead and (to a lesser extent) in live trees.
Reproduction: Breeding habitat includes coniferous forests from 335 to 1,400 m elevation, often in or near openings such as burns, logged areas, lakeshores, streamsides, swamps and bogs. Excavates its own nest cavities in living or dead coniferous trees. Nest tree dbh averaged 50 cm in Oregon. Nest entrance cavities are rounded and nest heights in B.C. range from 1 to 24 m, with most between 1 and 3 m. A clutch of 3-4 eggs is layed during the breeding period extending from May to late July.
Roosting: Reportedly uses tree deformities (e.g., scars, western gall rust cankers, mistletoe clumps) in mature and overmature trees for roosting but may use cavities as well.
Home Range Size: 72-328 ha per individual.
Status - Yellow
Rare to very rare resident east of the Coast Ranges and casual west of the Coast Ranges.
Bent 1939; Short 1982; Yunick 1985; Bull et al. 1986; Goggans et al. 1987; Marshall 1992d; Villard and Beninger 1993; Winkler et al. 1995.
2.11 Northern Flicker |
B-NOFL |
Physical Characteristics: The Northern Flicker is a relatively large woodpecker averaging 32 cm in length. Adults have a brown barred back, a spotted belly and a black crescent-shaped chest band. Wings lack white patches and a white rump is conspicuous in flight. Males have a red or black whisker stripe. Flight is undulating.
Vocalizations: Very active, noisy bird. Calls include a rapid wik-wik-wik-wik and wick-er, wick-er, usually repeated more than 10 times and a single, loud klee-yer, very sharp and descending in pitch.
Activity and Movement Patterns: In winter, some of the northern populations withdraw to southern interior valleys or move to the coast. Birds arrive at the breeding grounds in early March in southern areas and in late May in the north. Fall migration begins in late August, reaches a peak during the latter half of September and extends through October. In winter, flickers often concentrate in loose flocks in protected feeding areas.
Widely distributed resident in the southern third of B.C.; uncommon resident north to the Queen Charlotte Islands and the north coast. Rare to uncommon summer visitant throughout the rest of the province. Found from sea level to 2,100 m elevation in a variety of forested habitats as well as rangeland, pasture and urban and rural areas.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, MH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, SWB, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: CAM, GED, SOI, SIM, CEI, SBI, NBM, BOP, TAP.
Feeding: Forages in open or semi-open habitats on or near the ground for insects (especially ants, which form about 75 % of the diet). Occasionally gleans insects from bark surfaces and fly catches. Also eats nuts, grains and fruits, including cultivated varieties. Commonly frequents bird feeders.
Reproduction: Prefers open habitats, such as aspen-lodgepole pine parkland, ponderosa pine parkland, Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine forests, riparian woodland, forest edges, burns, logged areas, urban and rural gardens, rangeland, pasture, orchards and alpine meadow edges. Nests in existing holes or excavates new cavities in both natural and human-made sites. Natural sites include living and dead deciduous and coniferous trees and stumps, and occasionally silt and clay cliffs. Human-made sites include fenceposts, power poles, nest boxes and abandoned buildings. Soft, decayed trees are required for cavity excavation. Mean dbh for coastal and interior nest trees are 48 and 38 cm, respectively. Cavity entrances are oval and nest heights range from ground level to 27 m. A clutch of 4-9 eggs are layed and 5-7 young are usually raised, with a breeding period extending from April to late July.
Roosting: Roosts in dead and decaying trees at night and during inclement weather. Will sometimes drill holes in barns or under the eaves of houses for winter roosts.
Status - Yellow
Fairly common local resident in the southern third of the province, including Vancouver Island; uncommon resident north to the Queen Charlotte Islands and Prince Rupert on the coast. Rare to uncommon summer visitant throughout the remainder of the province.
Bent 1939; Lawrence 1967; Campbell et al. 1990; Winkler et al. 1995.
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B-PIWO |
Physical Characteristics: A large woodpecker averaging 42 cm in length Adults have a solid black back and a conspicuous red crest. The females' crest is less extensive than the males. Juveniles look similar but are paler than adults.
Vocalizations: Call is a fast kek kek kek, usually repeated 12 times or less and falling in pitch. Drumming is very loud, relatively slow, and softens toward the end. Drumming lasts 2-3 seconds and is repeated every 40-60 seconds, 4-7 times in a row.
Activity and Movement Patterns: In winter, appears to withdraw from northern parts of its range to southern valleys and coastal areas.
Widely distributed from sea level to 1,200 m in forested areas across southern B.C. Found more sparsely across central B.C. north to the Peace River area and in the north-east corner of the province. Absent in the north-west corner of B.C.
Biogeoclimatic Zones: CDF, CWH, MH, BG, PP, IDF, MS, ICH, SBPS, SBS, ESSF, BWBS.
Ecoprovinces: CAM, GED, SOI, SIM, CEI, SBI, BOP, NBM, TAP.
Feeding: Forages in old-growth and mature forests, in younger forests that contain mature and old-growth remnants, and in deciduous riparian areas. Forages by excavating into wood and scaling and chipping bark of standing dead trees, stumps and fallen logs of large diameter (>30 cm dbh). The large, rectangular feeding notches chiseled into the lower boles of trees are diagnostic. Live trees of sufficient diameter (>20 cm) are also used for feeding. Diet consists primarily of insects (especially carpenter ants and to a lesser extent woodboring beetle larvae and caterpillars), supplemented by berries and seeds.
Reproduction: Breeds in a variety of forested habitats from open deciduous forests to dense, mature coniferous stands. Excavates a nest cavity each year in deciduous or coniferous trees. Both live and dead standing trees are used but live trees are preferred. In a study on south-eastern Vancouver Island, confirmed nesting trees had a mean dbh of 82 cm and a mean height of 22 m. In an Okanagan valley study, nest trees were a minimum of 25.8 cm dbh and mean nest tree diameter was 40.5 cm. Nest cavities entrances were oval and ranged from 8 by 10 cm to 10 by 15 cm. Nest cavity heights ranged from 4 to 30 m, with most between 6.4 and 12.2 m. Most birds lay 2-4 eggs and raise 2-3 young with a breeding period extending from early April to late July.
Roosting: Excavates roosting cavities (usually several for each individual male and female) in live or dead trees >50 cm dbh; conifers may be preferred for roosting.
Home Range Size: Reported as 321-630 and 267-1056 ha per individual.
Uncommon to rare resident in southern B.C., including Vancouver Island. Very rare throughout the rest of the province, except in the north-west portion.
Bent 1939; Bull and Meslow 1977; Mannan 1984; Beckwith and Bull 1985; Bull 1987; Bull et al. 1992; Marshall 1992e; Mellen et al. 1992; Bull and Holthausen 1993; Winkler et al. 1995; Hartwig 1999.