Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker

An unmistakable black and white woodpecker,this bird has only three toes hence  its name.The male has a distinct yellow crown and both sexes are boldly striped.As well as feeding on insects and larvae, the Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker also punctures the bark of trees to get at underlying sap,often leaving pattern of holes on coniferous tree trunks.Males and female frequently drum during the late winter and early spring.

Shy and elusive,this generally northern species is found in coniferous boreal forest in Scandinavia and across northern Russia and Siberia to Japan. it is also found in mountainous area in central and eastern Europe.The Eurasian Three-toed woodpecker also occurs in North america but the American birds are generally smaller, with males displaying less yellow on the head.American bird also apparently feed less on sap.