Summary
- Natural history: A dead giveaway to this uncommon woodpecker’s presence is the litter of bark flakes it strips from the base of a dead spruce or fir while hunting wood-boring beetles, or its harsh, rattling call carrying through the boreal bogs and swamps of the Northeastern Highlands. Robin-sized and surprisingly tame, often approachable within just a few feet, the Black-backed Woodpecker will also show up well outside its normal range during occasional irruption years, when beetle outbreaks following fires or windstorms draw birds as far south as New Jersey.
- Status in VT: Increased by 60% (5 to 8 blocks). Greatest increase in blocks in Northeastern Highlands.
- Data from other research: No additional data for VT.
- Conservation status: State rank S2; SSC; SGCN-M
- Other atlases: NY: 11%; ON: no change.
- VT’s role in North American range: Northern Vermont is in the southeastern corner of the range.
- Causes of change since first Atlas: Maturation of forests (?); designation of no-cut softwood reserves and riparian zones (?).
- Management/Monitoring recommendations:Map areas of suitable breeding habitat; determine minimum and optimum patch size and effects of logging and development on habitat.
First Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (1976-1981)
Second Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas (2003 – 2007)
Change in Distribution
