Three-toed Woodpecker

Status Rare visitant. Morrell (1899) reported seeing two males and a female near River Hebert, Cumberland County, in winter 1897-98, and his bird list is otherwise plausible. McLeod (1903) mentioned having a specimen from Queens County. The next was a male seen near Upper Musquodoboit, Halifax County, on 8 September 1954 (H.S. Cruikshank). There have been several reports since one on Brier Island on 29 September 1957 (W. Lent); one in Halifax on 13 March 1960 (W. Mills, W. Bird); two at Green Bay, Lunenburg County, on 3 June 1970 (S. Cohrs); one in early Febnuary at Ingonish, Cape Breton Highlands National Park (I. Gettas, photographed by W. Neilly); one near Glace Bay on 8 August 1975 (S. MacLean, G. Spencer); two discovered in Amherst Point Bird Sanctuary on 11 November 1978 (C. Desplanque) and seen by others in following weeks; one on the Halifax West Christmas Bird Count on 23 December 1975 (D. Gray); and one photographed at Shad Bay, Halifax County, in March 1984 (M. Almon).

Remarks The range of this species lies further north than that of the Black-backed Woodpecker, a close relative. The adult males of both species have a yellow crown patch, but both male and female Three-toed Woodpeckers have backs conspicuously barred with black and white; those of the Black-backed are plain glossy black. Summer records suggest that some Three-toed Woodpeckers may nest in the province.