Three-toed Woodpecker a Winter Visitor in Canada
The Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus), formerly known as the Northern Three-toed Woodpecker, is typically found in Canada during the winter and early spring. This bird prefers coniferous forests, often residing in mountainous regions.
Burned forests attract the Three-toed Woodpecker, and it is frequently seen feeding on downed timber and rotting logs. Its distinctive appearance includes black and white barring on its back, sides, and flanks, a black rump, and a yellow patch on the nape of the male.
The Three-toed Woodpecker displays a calm temperament, often remaining still on the trunk of a tree for extended periods. It engages in behaviours such as peeling long strips of bark to uncover wood-boring insects. Its diet consists of a variety of insects, their larvae, spiders, and some berries.
