Leuconotopicus albolarvatus
The White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) is a medium-sized woodpecker, measuring 21-25 cm (8.3-9.8 in) in length with a wingspan of 43-48 cm (17-19 in) and weighing 50-70 g (1.8-2.5 oz). Its most distinctive field mark, unique among North American woodpeckers, is its entirely white head contrasting sharply with its glossy black body. Males possess a small but discernible red patch on the nape, absent in females, which serves as the primary sexual dimorphism. In flight, promin...
This species primarily inhabits montane coniferous forests, favoring dry Ponderosa Pine, Jeffrey Pine, and mixed conifer stands, typically found at elevations between 1,000 and 3,000 meters.
The diet consists mainly of conifer seeds, especially from Ponderosa and Jeffrey pines, which they extract from cones; they also consume a significant amount of insects, including beetle larvae and ants, gleaned or excavated from bark.
White-headed Woodpeckers are diurnal, actively foraging throughout the day and roosting in excavated tree cavities at night. Their foraging strategy is highly specialized; they excel at 'coning,' extracting seeds from conifer cones, often wedging cones into bark crevices to access the seeds. They...
The White-headed Woodpecker is largely a resident species, primarily found in the mountainous regions of western North America. Its breeding range extends from central British Columbia, Canada, south through the Cascade Range and Sierra Nevada of Washington, Oregon, and California, and eastward i...
Least Concern
- It is the only North American woodpecker with a completely white head, making it unmistakable. - White-headed Woodpeckers are specialized 'coners,' expertly extracting seeds from conifer cones using their unique bill and foraging techniques. - They often forage head-down on tree trunks, a disti...