Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus

General Status Rank: 
Secure
ELCODE: 
ABNYF07090
Common Name: 
Black-backed Woodpecker
Scientific Name: 
Picoides arcticus
Taxonomy
Group: 
Bird
Kingdom: 
Animalia
Phylum: 
Chordata
Class: 
Aves
Order: 
Piciformes
Family: 
Picidae
References: 
General Biology

Economic/Human Considerations

Non-game species
References: 
Habitat
coniferous woodland and burnt areas with standing trees
References: 
Distribution

Ecozones

Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Boreal Cordillera, Boreal Plains
References: 

Distribution

0.35 (B004); Range extent >200,000 sq km, as visually estimated from range map (Canadian Wildlife Service – Prairie & Northern Region 2009. Bird distributions in Nunavut & the Northwest Territories: 2009 Review.)
Score: 
G
References: 
Winter Distribution Description: 
slightly south of northern-most breeding range

Number of Occurrences

Observed yearly in Liard Valley, Nahanni region, and Fort Smith…as far north as Norman Wells
References: 

Historical Distribution

Likely similar to current dist.
References: 

Area of Occupancy

stable? Need data to confirm for NWT
Score: 
-
References: 
Population

Population Size

PIF population estimate = 30,000 (DD16 Accessed on <January 25, 2015>.)
Score: 
F
References: 
Threats

Threats

Little human disturbance in the regions, widespread forest fires create abundance breeding habitat for this species, threats should be low.
Score: 
C
References: 

Intrinsic Vulnerability

Limited effects of climate change likely in next 10 yrs, logging, pertroleum dev.; needs forest fire
Score: 
-
References: 
General Status Rank
Rank: 
Secure
Status Rank Description: 
PIF estimate is based on BBS data, yet there is not enough BBS data to generate a trend for this species in the NWT. But large area and good habitat (fire scars); Few threats to species in the NWT and forest fires are unmanaged and widespread. New breeding habitat is created each year as a result of fires. Threats for this species should be low, however not enough data to generate trends.
S Rank: 
S5
Decision Process Description: 
Drafted by Leslie Wakelyn and S. Carriere in 2000 mostly based on printed material; Reviewed in 2005 by C. Machtans and L.Armer, no change in status.; Reviewed in 2010;no change; Reviewed by Emily Upham-Mills CWS in 2015, no change
Last Updated: 
February 6, 2015

References

Area of Occupancy

  • Downes, C.M., E.H. Dunn and C.M Francis (2000) Canadian Landbird Monitoring Strategy: monitoring needs and priorities into the new millenium.. Partners in Flight - Canada A 9-15 EC-CWS, Yellowknife (L. Wakelyn) - or communicate with Erica H. Dunn, CWS in Hull, QC, at erica.dunn@ec,gc,ca - LWR01 Return
  • Dunn, E. (2005) National Action Needs for Canadian Landbird Conservation, Version 1. Canadian Wildlife Service Landbird Committee, Canadian Wildlife Service, Ottawa, Canada http://www.cws-scf.ec.gc.ca/birds/action/index_e.cfm - LA12 Return

Economic Status

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Ecozones

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Habitat

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return
  • Carrière, S. (2000) Pers. communication. Ecosystem Management Biologist; RWED - H126 Return
  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Historical Distribution

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Intrinsic Vulnerability

  • Emily Upham-Mills and Rhiannon Pankratz (2015) e-copy - H307 Return

Number of Occurrences

  • Wakelyn, Leslie (2000) Pers. communication. Wildlife biologist, CWS, Yellowknife - H129 Return

Population Size

Rich, T.D., Beardmore, C.J., Berlanga, H., Blancher, P.J., Bradstreet, M.S.W., Butcher, G.S., Demarest, D.W Dunn, E.H., Hunter, W.C., Inigo-Elias, E.E., Kennedy, J.A., Martell, A.M., Panjabi, A.O.,et al. (2004) Partners in Flight North American Landbird Conservation Plan (janv-04). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithica, NY http://www.partnersinflight.org/cont_plan/default.htm - LA01 Return
,
Partners in Flight Science Committee 2013. Population Estimates Database, version 2013. Available at http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates. Accessed on <January 25, 2015>. (2013) http://rmbo.org/pifpopestimates - DD16 Return

Range Extent

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Taxonomy

  • Godfrey WE (1986) The Birds of Canada. National Museums of Canada Revised Edition RWED Library Call #QL685.G6 - B004 Return

Threats

  • Emily Upham-Mills and Rhiannon Pankratz (2015) e-copy - H307 Return