Photo: David Menke / Public domain (Wikimedia Commons)
White-headed Woodpecker
Leuconotopicus albolarvatus
White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) — Woodpeckers & Toucans of North America.
Found across 20 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) is a member of the Picidae family found in North America. Adults weigh 61.1 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Piciformes
- Family Picidae Woodpeckers
- Genus Leuconotopicus
- Species albolarvatus
Quick facts
- Weight
- 61.1 g
- Diet
- Invertebrate-eaters
- Family
- Picidae
- Order
- Piciformes
- Habitat
- Woodland
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Least Concern
Not Evaluated
Least Concern
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The White-headed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Behaviour
A bird of semi-open forest, it spends much of its time perched in trees and shrubs.
Migration
The White-headed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) is a member of the Picidae family, within the order Piciformes. It occurs naturally across North America. Its distribution covers NA sw Canada and w USA.
It is a medium-sized bird. Adults weighs around 61.1 g, with a wing length of about 12.7 cm and a tail of around 9 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 500,000 km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the White-headed Woodpecker?
The White-headed Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird that weighs around 61.1 g.
Where does the White-headed Woodpecker live?
The White-headed Woodpecker is found across North America with a range covering NA sw Canada and w USA, where it is typically found in wooded and forested habitats.
What family does the White-headed Woodpecker belong to?
The White-headed Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus albolarvatus) belongs to the Picidae family, in the order Piciformes.
What does the White-headed Woodpecker eat?
The White-headed Woodpecker is a invertivore — it feeds mainly on invertebrates such as insects and other small prey.
Does the White-headed Woodpecker migrate?
The White-headed Woodpecker is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the White-headed Woodpecker endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the White-headed Woodpecker make?
1 real field recording of the White-headed Woodpecker — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the White-headed Woodpecker's range?
The White-headed Woodpecker has a mapped global range of about 500,000 km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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Guides for this bird
Best Suet Feeders for Woodpeckers
How to choose a suet feeder for woodpeckers — the styles compared, why a tail prop helps, and how to keep starlings off. A decision framework with the woodpecker species in the Birbs encyclopedia.
Meet the Picidae
A field guide to the Picidae family — 239 species in the Birbs encyclopedia, with the best-known members to start with.