White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker
Dendrocopos leucotos
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-backed_woodpecker
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Piciformes
Family
Picidae
Genus
Dendrocopos
White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker belongs to the family Picidae, order Piciformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
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.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
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.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
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.
Climate change impacts on forest ecosystems
Habitat fragmentation
Old-growth forest loss and intensive forestry
Removal of dead wood and snags
Reduced prey availability due to forest management
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). White-Backed Woodpecker, Lilford Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/white-backed-woodpecker-lilford-woodpecker