This distinctive large dark race is sometimes split under the name Owston's Woodpecker (D. owstoni) or Amami Woodpecker. In fact it looks quite different from other populations of White-backed Woodpecker in being much larger, darker, and lacking the obvious white lower back. It is endemic to the Island of Amami -Oshima where it is uncommon. It specializes in old mature forest mainly on the hilltops where it is threatened by habitat loss. IUCN classifies it as "near threatened" with a total population of under 2500. Japan classifies it as a "National Treasure."
