White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolaratus)

Distribution

Year-round Range: South-central British Columbia, north-central Washington and northern Idaho south through Oregon (east of Cascades) to southern California. Usually at elevations of 3,600–8,400 feet (1,100–2,550 meters) during nesting season, may descend to lower elevations during winter. Fairly common over most of range, rare and local in north.

Breeding habitat

Montane coniferous forest, primarily pine and fir, with a relatively open canopy and the presence of numerous snags or stumps. Highest abundances occur in old-growth stands, particularly ones with a mix of two or more pine species. Uncommon or absent in monospecific ponderosa pine forests and stands dominated by small-coned or closed-cone conifers (e.g., lodgepole pine or knobcone pine).

Conservation status

Although populations appear to be stable at present, this species is of moderate conservation importance because of its relatively small and patchy year-round range and its dependence on mature, montane coniferous forests in the West. Knowledge of this woodpecker’s tolerance of forest fragmentation and silvicultural practices will be important in conserving future populations.

Description

Male: A medium-sized woodpecker (9 inches, 23 centimeters); crown, forehead, cheeks, and throat white, red patch on the hindcrown, body entirely black except for white wing patches.

Female: Same as male, except lacking the red hindcrown.

Juvenile: Same as adult male, but shows a variable red patch on crown (July–Aug.).

Vocalizations

Drum: Fairly long and of medium speed.

Calls: A sharp pee-dink or pee-dee-dink given year-round, although less vocal outside breeding season. Often calls in flight. Also a longer “rattle call,” an extended peekikikikikikik. Nestlings make quiet churr sounds in first week, then begin to sound more cricket-like and can be heard outside the nest cavity. After 2 weeks make constant peep sounds, and just before fledging give typical pee-dink calls. Several calls used in courtship displays, see “Courtship” below.

Foraging strategy

Hammering or boring into deep sub-bark layers is rare, resulting in relatively quiet foraging. While direct pecking does occur, a “chisel” maneuver is also employed, where birds flakes and chips bark of conifers with angled strokes. Peers into cracks in bark and probes crevices with tongue. Will also chip open cones to expose seeds.

Diet

Main foods are invertebrates, primarily adult and larval insects, including ants, beetles, and scale insects and conifer seeds. Generally, foraging on cones peaks late summer–winter, but the timing varies with species of pine. Foraging substrate and food items vary geographically depending on diversity and dominant species of conifers, and on severity of winters.

Behavior and displays

• Movement along vertical trunks typical of Picoides woodpeckers, with short hitches using stiffened rectrices as brace.

• Downward (tail-first) hitching along trunk is common during foraging bouts and intraspecific interactions.

• Exhibits typical undulating woodpecker flight, alternating quick flapping bursts with short glides.

• Leaves roost shortly after sunrise, but late riser relative to most species within its habitat.

Courtship

• Nest demonstration display—one bird, usually the male, gives flutter aerial display toward nest hole, giving “kweek call” in flight and “twitter call” upon landing. Female then flies in and gives rattle call to male, who is at or inside nest cavity. Female flies to horizontal branch near nest tree, the male flies out.

• Soft chewk chewk chewk notes and wing-quivering in both sexes precede copulation. After copulation, male flies away, and female flies to and enters nest cavity, giving rattle call.

Nesting

Nest Site: Excavates a cavity in a large diameter dead conifer, stump, or fallen log.

Height: 3–25 feet (1–8 meters) above the ground, average 6 feet (2 meters).

Nest: Excavated in large snags, usually over 22 inch (58 cm) dbh.

Eggs: 4–5 white eggs, often becoming washed and spotted with dirt and pitch as incubation proceeds.

Incubation period: 14 days, incubation by both sexes.

Nestling period: Nestlings are altricial, tended by both adults. Adults enter nest cavity completely to feed young until young are about 10–12 days old, after which adults only partly enter cavity.

Fledgling period: Young leave nest at 26 days, the adults call and drum near nest cavity to coax nestlings out of nest. Both sexes feed fledglings.

Broods: Single brooded.

Cowbird Parasitism: Not known to occur.