White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker
CR

White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker

Dendrocopos leucotos

UnknownLCEULCEU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-backed_woodpecker

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The White-backed Woodpecker faces severe population declines due to extensive loss of old-growth forests and intensive forest management practices that remove the dead and dying trees essential for its survival. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, while climate change and reduced availability of suitable nesting sites further threaten this specialized species.

Threat summary

Habitat

Mature and old-growth deciduous and mixed forests, particularly those dominated by beech, oak, and other broadleaf trees with abundant dead wood, snags, and decaying timber. The species requires forests with high structural diversity and minimal human disturbance, typically at elevations up to 2000m.

TERRESTRIAL· major

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Frequently asked questions

Why is White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker classified as Critically Endangered?
White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The White-backed Woodpecker faces severe population declines due to extensive loss of old-growth forests and intensive forest management practices that remove the dead and dying trees essential for its survival. Habitat fragmentation has isolated remaining populations, while climate change and reduced availability of suitable nesting sites further threaten this specialized species.
Where does White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker live?
White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker?
The main threats to White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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