Since moving to the Reno, NV area in 2016, I’ve been searching for the Black-backed Woodpecker. I first saw one in the northern part of the Idaho panhandle but no photos. I have heard then 2-3 times in the eastern Sierras west of Reno and Carson City but no photos. A couple of days before July 4th a birder reported a nesting pair and I went looking for them. It was about a 5-6 mile hike to Marlette Lake, which is a mountain lake above northeast end of Lake Tahoe. I first heard them then saw an adult and immature about 200 m away where I was able to capture an adult male with an immature male.
Black-backed Woodpecker, adult (Picoides arcticus) - Marlette Lake, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 7-4-2023 at 8:53
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/1000s, f/7.1, ISO500, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny/shade
The Black-backed Woodpecker is found mostly in burned forests over much of its range and specializes on eating wood-boring beetle larvae. This Woodpecker locate burned forests shortly after a forest fire and then live off the beetles over the next 5 to 8 years. I followed the pair around with the immature calling contantly and didn’t seem to mind my presence.
Black-backed Woodpecker, adult
Black-backed Woodpecker, adult
Black-backed Woodpecker adult with immature male
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature (Picoides arcticus) - Marlette Lake, WAS (NV)
EQ: Nikon D850, Nikkor 500mm f/4.0 with 1.4 TC Taken: 7-4-2023 at 8:55
Settings: 700mm (35mm eqv), 1/800s, f/5.6, ISO800, +1/3EV, Conditions: sunny/shade
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
A 2010 genetic study of the Black-backed Woodpecker established that the Oregon/California population and South Dakota Black Hills populations may be distinct from the boreal population. Reno in on the southern end of its range with them being found all along the Sierra range but they are unpredictable making them a rare find although not considered truly rare.
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
Black-backed Woodpecker, immature
Your comments are welcomed and if you have any questions about these photos or any other leave me a message.