Lewis's Woodpecker

Overview

Lewis's woodpecker is a large North American species of woodpecker, one of the three largest in its genus, named after explorer Meriwether Lewis. It is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List.

Identification

• Plumage: Mainly reddish-breasted with blackish-green upper parts and a black rump; features a gray collar and upper breast, a pinkish belly, and a red face.
• Size: Large for a woodpecker, measuring 10–11 inches (25–28 cm) in length with a wingspan of 19.3–20.5 in (49–52 cm).
• Flight: Flies at a sluggish pace with slow, even flaps similar to those of a crow, utilizing wings that are much broader than those of other woodpeckers.
• Vocalization: Possesses a harsh-sounding call relative to other woodpeckers and may use a repertoire of several phrases.

Habitat

Locally common to the northwestern United States, dwelling mostly in open pine woodlands and areas with scattered trees and snags. Unlike other American woodpeckers, it enjoys sitting in the open rather than in heavy tree cover. Its range extends from the western and central United States south to Southern California and the US-Mexico border in winter, and north to Canada in summer.

Diet

Although it bores into trees with a chisel-like bill, it exhibits gregarious feeding habits and hawks insects in flight, a behavior shared by only a few other woodpeckers. It also feeds on berries and nuts, often shelling and storing nuts in cracks and holes in wood for winter. It is known to feed at flat, open bird feeders, where it may act aggressively towards other birds.

Did you know?

This species is unique in that it will not excavate its own nest cavity but instead uses pre-existing cavities in dead trees, typically 1 to 52 meters high. Mates are lifelong partners and may return to the same nest the following year if breeding was successful.