By Erik Bianchi
Geographic Range
White-backed woodpeckers are one of Europe’s rarest species of woodpeckers. They can be found in a region extending from western Europe to western Russia and as far south as Greece. The densest populations of Dendrocopos leucotos are found in the coastal forests of western Norway. (Melletti and Penteriani, 2003; Mikusinski, 1998)
Biogeographic Regions:
palearctic 
(native ).
Habitat
(984 to 6560 ft)
White-backed woodpeckers live in mature, open deciduous and mixed forests in upland or mountain regions, which have a high percentage of dead trees and fallen timber. Dendrocopos leucotos prefers broad-leaved forests of beech, birch, maple, ash, and elm that are in their late successional stages on steep or hilly terrain. They are occasionally found in coniferous forests, provided there are enough standing, dead trees. They often occur near rivers and streams. These woodpeckers prefer to live in mature, deciduous forests around 80 years old because they depend on mature, dead, or dying trees for nesting and feeding. (Carlson, 1992; Cramp, 1985; Hogstad, 1997; Stenberg, 2004; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
These animals are found in the following types of habitat:
temperate ; terrestrial .
Other:
riparian .
Physical Description
(3.7 to 3.94 oz; avg. 3.82 oz)
(3.27 to 3.58 in)
(5.67 to 5.98 in; avg. 5.83 in)
White-backed woodpeckers are the largest of the spotted, black-and-white woodpeckers and have an obviously larger head and beak than similar species. An adult male has a bright red region on the top of the head extending from the eyes back to the middle of the back of the head. Their iris is colored red-brown or red. Extending down the side of the face and back of the neck is white. A large black area lies in the middle of the white neck region and extends to the bill and behind the eyes up to the red portion of the crown. They have a white belly that is streaked with broad, black bars. A white-and-black striped pattern covers its back and wings. Females are slightly smaller than males and the entire top of their heads are black, not red. Males also have larger beaks than females, but this characteristic is hard to see without comparing a male and female side-by-side. Bare spots on the body, such as the beak and feet are greyish. Young white-backed woodpeckers are a dull shade of brown and appear much dirtier than adults. Both male and female young have red on their crowns, but are much lighter than adult males. Dendrocopos leucotos is set apart from a similar species, lesser spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos minor), by its large size and strongly streaked underbody and is most likely mistaken with middle spotted woodpeckers (Dendrocopos medius). (Cramp, 1985; Melletti and Penteriani, 2003; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Some key physical features:
endothermic ; homoiothermic; bilateral symmetry .
Sexual dimorphism: male larger, sexes colored or patterned differently, male more colorful.
Reproduction
White-backed woodpeckers breed annually.
Breeding occurs from February to June.
White-backed woodpeckers breed only with a single mate. These birds tend to mate with the same partner year after year. The only case where they would switch partners is if one of the pair was to perish. It is not known whether or not these birds stay together outside of the breeding season. (Cramp, 1985)
Mating systems:
monogamous .
Dendrocopos leucotos begin mating in February. These birds breed approximatly two weeks earlier than other woodpeckers in the same area. A nest for the eggs is usually created in a rotted tree trunk by both the male and female anywhere from 1 to 20 m above ground. The nest hole is about 7 cm wide and 30 cm deep. The mother will lay 3 to 5 eggs and both male and female will incubate for 12 to 16 days. The male will tend to the eggs during the night and the incubation will alternate between male and female during the day. After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for 25 to 28 days. The male is the main contributor to caring for the chicks. It is not known when the newly born woodpeckers reach the age of independence, but a family bond is mainained for some time after fledging. The age of sexual maturity is not known. (Cramp, 1985; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Key reproductive features:
iteroparous ; seasonal breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization ; oviparous .
Both male and female Dendrocopos leucotos spend 2 to 4 weeks preparing a nest for their clutch by excavating the soft wood of a decaying tree trunk. After the clutch has been laid, the female hands over most of the duty of incubation to the male. The male incubates the eggs during the night, while both sexes take turns incubating during the day. The male is the main provider of food for the chicks and does most of the protecting. If danger is near, the male will begin drumming loudly on the trunk to protect his territory and his young. The female will drum, but with a much lighter force than the male, to alert the male of possible danger. The male will then begin to drum much louder to deter invaders. This behavior occurs before, during, and after the eggs have hatched in the nest. (Cramp, 1985; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Parental investment:
altricial ; pre-fertilization (provisioning, protecting: male); pre-hatching/birth (provisioning: female, protecting: male, female); pre-weaning/fledging (provisioning: male, female, protecting: male); pre-independence (provisioning: male, protecting: male, female); post-independence association with parents.
Lifespan/Longevity
The lifespan of white-backed woodpeckers is not well known. Some individuals have been documented living 3 to 4 years. (Cramp, 1985)
Behavior
White-backed woodpeckers spend most of the day foraging for insects in dead and dying trees. A characteristic that distinguishes woodpeckers from other birds is the drumming noise they make when pounding their beaks into trees in search of food. Male drumming is generally louder than female drumming. White-backed woodpecker drumming sounds like the bounce of a ping-pong ball, the drumming is fast and strong at the beginning and slows down to a weaker, slower beat over time. Some describe it as a sound that "bounces to a halt." When alarmed by predators or by other woodpeckers, D. leucotos will adopt an erect-posture and respond with a call. (Hogstad, 1994; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Home Range
Dendrocopos leucotos individuals are usually found in a small, 1 to 2 square kilometer home range. (Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Communication and Perception
The most common call of white-backed woodpeckers is a soft and low "gig." To raise an alarm they will make a sound like "kyig, gyig." Woodpeckers are also able to communicate by drumming with their beak against a tree trunk. This noise is a way to alert others of possible threats. (Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Food Habits
White-backed woodpeckers are predominantly insectivores. They feed on wood-boring and bark-living insects in the dead or decaying wood of deciduous trees, such as wood-boring beetles (Coleoptera) and their larvae. Males have longer beaks and therefore tend to forage for deeper food. Females tend to forage only under the bark layer. Because of this, males tend to forage on trees with very little bark. They will occasionally take some plant material, including wild cherries, prunes, and berries, acorns, and hazel nuts. (Hogstad, 1997; Winkler, Christie, and Nurney, 1995)
Primary Diet:
carnivore (insectivore ).
Animal Foods:
insects.
Plant Foods:
seeds, grains, and nuts; fruit.
Predation
Ecosystem Roles
White-backed woodpeckers are important predators of the insect pests of trees. Their wood excavation and cavity building are important for other species that rely on nest cavities but do not build their own. White-backed woodpeckers are important indicators of a healthy, mature forest ecosystem, as they do not persist in immature or disturbed forests.
Economic Importance for Humans: Negative
There is no known negative effects on humans from this species of woodpecker.
Economic Importance for Humans: Positive
White-backed woodpeckers are important indicators of healthy, mature deciduous woodlands in Eurasia.
Conservation Status
IUCN Red List: [link]:
Least Concern.
US Migratory Bird Act: [link]:
No special status.
US Federal List: [link]:
No special status.
CITES: [link]:
No special status.
White-backed woodpeckers are listed as lower risk/least concern by the IUCN. They are threatened regionally by habitat destruction.
Contributors
Tanya Dewey (editor), Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.
Erik Bianchi (author), Kalamazoo College. Ann Fraser (editor, instructor), Kalamazoo College.
