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Black-backed Woodpecker Identification

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The Four Keys to ID

  • Size & Shape

    A medium-sized woodpecker with a large head and a long, powerful bill for its size. It has broad wings and a medium-length tail.

    Relative Size

    Larger than a Downy Woodpecker, smaller than a Northern Flicker; about the size of a Hairy Woodpecker.

    Relative Sizerobin sizedrobin-sized

    Measurements
    • Both Sexes
      • Length: 9.1 in (23 cm)
      • Weight: 2.1-3.1 oz (61-88 g)
      • Wingspan: 15.8-16.5 in (40-42 cm)

    Shape of the Black-backed Woodpecker© Chris Wood / Macaulay Library