Species Profile
Lewis's Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Lewis's Woodpecker
Quick Facts
Conservation
LCLeast ConcernLifespan
5–7 years
Length
26–28 cm
Weight
88–138 g
Wingspan
49–52 cm
Migration
Partial migrant
Also known as: Lewis Woodpecker
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Appearance
Lewis's Woodpecker stands out with its unique coloration. The bird has a dark, iridescent green back, a pinkish-red belly, and a grey collar. Its face is dark red, contrasting with a silvery-grey throat.
Both sexes look similar, and although males are usually marginally larger than females, there is no reliable way of telling sexes apart by sight alone. There are no significant seasonal plumage changes.
Juveniles do not have the white collar or red facial plumage of adults, and their bellies may lack the pink tinge seen in mature birds. By late fall, they become more challenging to distinguish from older birds.
Identification & Characteristics
Colors
- Primary
- Green
- Secondary
- Grey
- Beak
- Black
- Legs
- Grey
Attributes
Understanding Attributes
Rated 0–100 based on research and observation. A score of 50 is average across all bird species. These attributes are relative and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Habitat & Distribution
Lewis's Woodpecker inhabits open ponderosa pine forests, oak woodlands, and riparian areas in western North America. Their range extends from southern British Columbia to Arizona and New Mexico.
In winter, some populations move to lower elevations or more southern areas. They are particularly common in burned forests, which provide ideal nesting and foraging habitats.
Distribution
Diet
Lewis's Woodpecker has a varied diet. In summer, they primarily catch flying insects in mid-air. During fall and winter, they switch to acorns, nuts, and berries, often storing these in bark crevices for later consumption. They also occasionally forage on the ground.
They may visit backyard feeders, particularly flat tray-style feeders, where they may display aggression towards other species that attempt to share the food source.
Behaviour
Lewis's Woodpecker exhibits unusual behavior for a woodpecker. It often perches on exposed branches and catches insects in flight, similar to flycatchers.
During the breeding season, these birds become territorial and aggressively defend their nesting sites from intruders.
Calls & Sounds
Lewis's Woodpecker is relatively quiet compared to other woodpeckers. Their most common call is a harsh, raspy 'churr' or 'krrr'. During the breeding season, they produce a series of high-pitched 'eee-eee-eee' notes. Drumming is infrequent and not particularly loud.
Nesting & Breeding
Lewis's Woodpeckers form monogamous pairs during the breeding season, which typically begins in May. During courtship, they engage in aerial displays and vocalizations.
Nests are excavated in dead or dying trees, often at considerable heights. The female lays 5-9 white eggs in the cavity nest, which is sparsely lined with wood chips.
Both parents incubate the eggs for about 12-14 days. After hatching, the nestlings remain in the nest for approximately 28-34 days before fledging.
Conservation
Although classified as Least Concern, the Lewis's Woodpecker faces threats to habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts focus on preserving mature forest stands and maintaining snags for nesting.
Climate change and competition with European Starlings for nest cavities pose additional challenges.
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for them perched on dead trees or utility poles in open woodlands
- Listen for their distinctive harsh 'churr' calls
- Observe their flycatcher-like behavior of catching insects in mid-air
- In the western United States, check burned forest areas where they often nest
Did You Know?
- Lewis's Woodpecker was named after Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark expedition on 20 July 1805 to explore lands acquired during the Louisiana Purchase. Ornithologist Alexander Wilson named the bird ‘Lewis’s woodpecker’ in 1811. Notes from the expedition recorded his experience in the following words: “I saw a black woodpecker (or crow) today… it is a distinct species of woodpecker; it has a long tail and flies a good deal like the jay bird”.
- It's one of the few woodpeckers that catches insects in flight, like a flycatcher.
- These birds are known to store thousands of acorns in a single tree for winter food.
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