From Opus

Photo by rb_stern

Picoides arcticus

[edit] Identification

23 cm. Black back, sides barred black-and-white, white throat, chest and belly, black face with white and black "moustache", white face stripe extending from above bill to nape, black tail with white outer feathers, slate grey bill, deep reddish eyes, blue-grey legs and feet, 3 toes on each foot.
Male has yellow cap.

Juvenile - similar to adult but duller, with dull black crown (yellow patch reduced or absent), and underparts washed buff.

[edit] Distribution

Boreal regions of Alaska, Canada, and northern United States.

[edit] Taxonomy

This is a monotypic species.

[edit] Habitat

Boreal forests, beaver ponds.

[edit] Behaviour

[edit] Breeding

It nests in hole in trunk of tree; chips or wood fibres in bottom of cavity. 3-4 white eggs are laid.

[edit] Diet

The diet includes larvae of bark beetles and wood-boring beetles.

[edit] External Links