Watercolor portrait of Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus)

Black-backed Woodpecker

Picoides arcticus
They live across much of Canada and in w… Black-backed Woodpeckers love burned con… Uncommon Fast, even drum roll

Learn to identify the Black-backed Woodpecker by ear. Master the "brrrrr-brrrrr" phrase and tell it apart from similar species.

“brrrrr-brrrrr”

What the Black-backed Woodpecker sounds like

This smoky forest specialist looks like it flew straight out of a wildfire. It’s mostly soot-black above with crisp white underparts, and the male flashes a bright yellow cap like a tiny warning light. You’ll often notice it hitching quietly up charred trunks, peeling bark with purposeful chops.

“brrrrr-brrrrr”

How to tell it apart

Listen for:The main 'song' is a quick, even burst of drumming on dead wood. It sounds sharp, dry, and purposeful, carrying well through a burned forest. Often written as “brrrrr-brrrrr”.
Don't confuse with:The American Three-toed Woodpecker — shows black-and-white barring on the back rather than one solid black panel.

Where you'll hear it

Black-backed Woodpeckers love burned conifer forests, especially in the first few years after a fire. They also show up in beetle-killed spruce, pine, and fir stands across boreal and mountain forests.

These woodpeckers can move into a burned forest surprisingly fast, sometimes nesting there the very next breeding season. They’re most noticeable after fire, when dead trees are full of insects and their drumming carries through the open woods.

Similar species

American Three-toed Woodpecker

Shows black-and-white barring on the back rather than one solid black panel.

Hairy Woodpecker

Has a bold white stripe down the center of the back, not a fully black back.

Downy Woodpecker

Noticeably smaller with a shorter, daintier bill.

Black-backed Woodpecker sound FAQ

What does a Black-backed Woodpecker sound like?
The main 'song' is a quick, even burst of drumming on dead wood. It sounds sharp, dry, and purposeful, carrying well through a burned forest. Listen for the "brrrrr-brrrrr" phrase.
How do I tell a Black-backed Woodpecker from a American Three-toed Woodpecker by sound?
American Three-toed Woodpecker: Shows black-and-white barring on the back rather than one solid black panel.; Usually looks more striped overall, especially across the upperparts.; Also has three toes, so the back pattern is the best quick separator..
When is the best time to hear a Black-backed Woodpecker?
These woodpeckers can move into a burned forest surprisingly fast, sometimes nesting there the very next breeding season. They’re most noticeable after fire, when dead trees are full of insects and their drumming carries through the open woods.