Picoides

Picoides is a genus of woodpeckers in the family Picidae, comprising small to medium-sized woodpeckers found across the northern hemisphere in forests, woodlands, and even urbanized areas. Members of the genus are typically short-billed relative to some other woodpeckers, with sturdy bodies and stiff tail feathers that help them brace against tree trunks while foraging.

Diet and behavior: Picoides species primarily eat insects living in or under tree bark, including beetle larvae and ants. They forage by pecking, chiseling, and gleaning on trunks and branches, often moving vertically along a tree as they search for prey. They are known for their drumming, a rapid series of strikes on hollow wood used to communicate and establish territories, as well as for a variety of vocalizations.

Breeding and nest ecology: Picoides birds are cavity nesters, excavating nest holes in dead or living trees. Clutch size varies by species, typically ranging from about three to seven eggs. Both parents participate in incubation and feeding of nestlings.

Distribution and conservation: The genus is most diverse in North America, with several Eurasian species also placed in Picoides depending on taxonomic treatment. Conservation status varies by species; some are common and widespread, while others are of concern. The red-cockaded woodpecker (Picoides borealis), for example, is listed as endangered in parts of its range due to habitat loss.

Selected species: Notable members include the downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) and hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus), which are common in North American forests and suburban areas; the ladder-backed woodpecker (Picoides scalaris) in arid southwestern regions; and the Eurasian three-toed woodpecker (Picoides tridactylus) found in boreal Europe and Asia.