Vulnerability: least concern
Invasive: no
Identification: easy
Monitoring: difficult
What is it?
The Eurasian three-toed woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a length of 21cm to 24cm length for a weight of 60-85g. its plumage is black and white, with a yellow crown in males and juveniles. It is similar to the great spotted woodpecker in size, but can be identified by the lack of any red feathers on the belly, undertail, and crown. Like most woodpeckers, this bird is only found in forests. Its breeding habitat is specifically coniferous forest, and it mostly feeds on insects and larvae.
Where is it?
The three-toed woodpecker is found from northern Europe to Korea and down to northern Japan. It breeds throughout most of Fennoscandia, and is not migratory. It is also found in some alpine pockets in central Europe, as far west as eastern France. It is not present above the tree line.
Interesting facts
  • Three-toed woodpeckers often will move into areas where many insects can be found infesting trees, which is especially common after floods or forest fires.
  • Until recently, the American three-toed woodpecker and Eurasian three-toed woodpecker were considered to be the same species.

Pictures

References

  • BirdLife International (2021) Species factsheet: Picoides tridactylus. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 07/12/2021
  • Three-toed Woodpecker, Picoides tridactylus. (n.d.). NatureGate. Retrieved December 7, 2021, from https://luontoportti.com/en/t/1614/three-toed-woodpecker
PARTNERS

Project collaborators in Iceland

Made possible with support from

The Icelandic Climate Fund (2020-2021)
The North Atlantic Cooperation (2021-2023)