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Birds
of Interior Alaska
Woodpeckers:
Hairy, Downy,
Three-toed,
Black-backed (residents), and Northern Flicker
(migratory)
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Woodpeckers are a great treat for
the backyard birder especially if you have trees near a good
viewing window. Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are regular
visitors to our suet feeder, particularly in winter.
Both Downy and
Hairy woodpeckers have plain white feathers down the back.
If the woodpecker you are watching has black and white
barring down the back you are likely to be looking at a
Three-toed woodpecker. If it has a plain black
back...Black-backed woodpecker.
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Hairy Woodpecker (female)
Picoides villosus
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Downy Woodpecker (male)
Picoides pubescens
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Length: 9"
Bill is long, more than half the head profile.
Outer tail feathers are white, lacking spots or
bars.
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Length: less than 7"
Bill is short, less than half the head profile.
Faint spots or bars on outer tail feathers
(not visible in this photo)
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Downy and Hairy
woodpeckers are very commonly spotted at suet feeders,
Black-backed is less so, and Three-toeds uncommon. We have
not yet seen the Three-toed in our yard but they do pass
through the area. Black-backed and Three-toed woodpeckers
are more commonly spotted picking over old burn areas as
they look for food. Old brush piles also attract them.
Northern Flickers pass through in summer but I never seem to
have a camera with me when I see a flicker.
Although beautiful and interesting,
woodpeckers can also be pests. Drumming on rain gutters or
flashing, drilling out knots on siding as potential nesting
site, or pursuing carpenter ants hiding in siding,
woodpecker/human interaction runs from interesting to
annoying. If you are having problems with woodpeckers do
some research before removing them because woodpeckers are
federally protected. More info on woodpeckers
as pests and the
law.
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