Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) Joseph Youngman Status: Special Concern MNFI
(Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II Raco, Chippewa Co., MI ) 6/10/2006 © Sean Fitzgerald The rarest of the regularly breeding The large area of pine forests in the north central LP is the farthest south that it breeds in woodpeckers in Michigan, the Black-backed is Michigan. The first recorded nest for Michigan restricted to conifer dominated forests in the UP was found east of Munising in Schoolcraft and the northern LP. Along with its close County in 1941 (Wood 1951). During both relative, the American Three-toed Woodpecker, atlas periods, many more confirmations were the Black-backed Woodpecker is a fire recorded in the UP than the LP. In the MBBA specialist (Dixon and Saab 2000). Its densest II period, the Black-backed was reported from breeding in Michigan occurs in the early years 68 townships in the UP and three from the LP. after forest fires or insect outbreaks, but clearly These numbers closely mirror the numbers from a low level population survives in the conifer MBBA I: 62 in the UP and seven in the LP. forests of upper Michigan even during decades between significant fires. The Black-backed is Breeding Biology strictly a North American species and its range Nest cavity excavation begins as early as late extends from southern Alaska eastward across March and young are fledged in June and July Canada to the Atlantic. Its range dips down into (pers. obs.). Both sexes help in excavation of the the U.S. in New England, the upper Midwest nest as well as incubating eggs and attending and in the northern ends of the Rockies and hatched young (Dixon and Saab 2000). While a Cascades in the west. low level population remains in the UP and NLP
during non-fire times, it is just after forest fires Distribution that Black-backed Woodpeckers flourish. A In the early 1900s, the Black-backed large fire in 1988 near Rapid River, Delta Woodpecker was very rarely seen in the County hosted up to 29 birds and nesting southern LP during fall and winter during occurred in 1989 and 1990 (Evers 1991). A irruption years, but all recent sightings and all 1,000 acre fire in mostly jack pine forest in breeding records are north of a line from Baraga County in early April of 2007 led to two Ludington to Bay City. It is occasionally found years of prolific nesting. As many as 48 in mixed forests but all breeding records come individuals were seen and nesting was recorded from predominantly conifer forests. The Black- in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, 20 Black-backed backed Woodpecker is most common in the UP.
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) Joseph Youngman Status: Special Concern MNFI Woodpecker nests were found within a 231 acre Conservation Needs study area within the burn area, including one The Black-backed Woodpecker is designated as 46 acre stand that contained six successful nests a species of Special Concern by the Michigan (J. Youngman, unpubl. data). In early August Natural Features Inventory. Extensive, fully 2007, an 18,000+ acre fire occurred near and mature jack pine stands, in which some trees are southeast of Sleeper Lake, Luce County, likely beginning to die, benefit the Black-backed started by a lightning strike. The burned area Woodpecker. After a burn, local breeding received little coverage in 2008, the last year of populations increase significantly (Dixon and data collection for the atlas, with only a single Saab 2000). Certain timber harvest practices, confirmed nest found (M. Willard). Additional especially salvage cuts after a burn and efforts after the atlas period found several clearcuts, reduce the available habitat for this additional nests in 2009 (J. Youngman, Z. Gayk, species. S. Haas, unpubl. data). Increasing the acreage set aside in old growth, Abundance and Population Trends even in such non-typical types as jack pine, The Wisconsin atlas project recorded the Black- could help stabilize the Black-backed backed Woodpecker in 3.18% of its survey Woodpecker population in Michigan. Both blocks and showed a geographic distribution private and public landowners should be that was similar to Michigan’s (Cutright et al. encouraged to leave significant percentages of 2006). Ontario’s atlas showed no significant burned forests un-salvaged so all fire loving change in the abundance of Black-backed species, including the Black-backed Woodpecker (Cadman et al. 2007). The Woodpecker, can share our state. occurrence of Black-backed Woodpeckers in Michigan during the MBBA II period is probably quite representative of the overall nature of this species’ breeding habits. There was evidence of low level populations across much of upper Michigan and in one location, in one year, there was a super-abundance. The Black-backed Woodpeckers nesting on the Baraga Plains in Baraga County in 2008 were among the densest ever reported for that species (Dixon and Saab 2000). But that super- abundance was a temporary phenomenon related to the forest fire that Black-backs have evolved to exploit. Such small scale, short-term (two to four year) breeding hotspots have probably always occurred in Michigan. Black- backed Woodpeckers have always been an uncommon to rare species, inhabiting their rather small niche in the ecology of Michigan’s forests and they seem ready to continue to do so. In both atlases the Black-backed Woodpecker was found in about 3.5% of townships statewide.
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) Joseph Youngman Status: Special Concern MNFI Literature Cited Suggested Citation
Benzie, J.W. 1977 Manager’s handbook for Youngman, Joseph. 2011. Black-backed jack pine in the north central States. Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus). In General Technical Report NC-32: U.S. Chartier, A.T., J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Dept of Agriculture, Forest Service, North Brenneman (eds.). 2010-2011. The Second Central Forest Experiment Station. St Paul, Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo MN Nature Center. Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, D. online at:
© 2010 Kalamazoo Nature Center