Lewis's Woodpecker

One of the largest species of American woodpeckers, Lewis's Woodpecker can be as large as 10 to 11 inches in length. It is mainly reddish-breasted, blackish-green in color with a black rump. It has a gray collar and upper breast, with a pinkish belly, and a red face. The wings are much broader than those of other woodpeckers, and it flies at a much more sluggish pace with slow, but even flaps similar to those of a crow.

The Lewis's Woodpecker is classified as Least Concern. Does not qualify for a more at risk category. Widespread and abundant taxa are included in this category.

The Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis, is a large North American species of woodpecker which was named for Meriwether Lewis, one of the explorers who surveyed the areas bought by the United States of America during the Louisiana Purchase. More

Lewis's Woodpecker is locally common, dwelling mostly in open pine woodlands, and other areas with scattered trees. Unlike other American woodpeckers, it enjoys sitting in the open as opposed to sitting in heavy tree cover. It ranges mostly in the western to central United States, but can winter as far south as the US border with Mexico and summer as far north as Canada. More

Lewis's Woodpecker - Melanerpes lewis * Lewis` Woodpecker * Lewis` Woodpecker, Front View Species of Concern Global Rank: G4 State Rank: S2B Agency Status USFWS: none USFS: none BLM: none FWP Conservation Tier: 2 PIF: 2 Listen to an Audio Sample More

A dark woodpecker of open woodlands, the Lewis's Woodpecker is found westward of the Great Plains. Its slow, deliberate flight reminds one of a crow or jay more than a woodpecker. More

Lewis's Woodpeckers have a more steady, buoyant flight than most other woodpeckers, with slower wing-beats and longer glides. In flight they can often be mistaken for crows. back to top Diet - Flying insects make up most of the Lewis's Woodpecker's spring and summer diet. In fall and winter they feed principally on acorns, other nuts, seeds, and fruits. More

Lewis's Woodpecker by James Coe from his upcoming Guide to Western Birds Winter: Interior southern British Columbia (casually) south through the western states to northern Mexico, but mainly in the southwestern United States. More

Lewis's Woodpecker is a distinctive bird of the open woodlands of the American west. Quite different in plumage from other American woodpeckers, Lewis's Woodpecker outwardly bears some resemblance to crows, with its glossy black back and slow, rowing wing strokes in flight. Lewis's Woodpecker also exhibits unusual feeding habits, including flycatching and gleaning of insects as well as collection and storage of acorns. More

The Lewis's Woodpecker has a large range, estimated globally at 2,100,000 square kilometers. Native to North America, this bird prefers forest ecosystems though it can reside on arable land. The global population of this bird has not been exactly determined but does not show signs of decline that would necessitate inclusion on the IUCN Red List. For this reason, the current evaluation status of Lewis's Woodpecker is Least Concern. More

Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis WatchList 2007 Status: http://web1.audubon.org/filerepository/science/speciesprofiles/watchlist/Red. More

Lewis's Woodpecker Identification - USGS Lewis's Woodpecker - Birds of Washington State Join a network for good: Audubon Society of Washington Washington Ornithological Society Related bird books Birding Washington Bird Songs of the Okanagan Birds of Yakima County The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America Peterson Field Guide to Western Birds Western Birding by Ear: A Guide to Bird Song Identification More

Bent Life History for the Lewis's Woodpecker - the common name and sub-species reflect the nomenclature in use at the time the description was written. LEWIS'S WOODPECKER ASYNDESMUS LEWIS (Gray) HABITS My first impression of this curious and interesting woodpecker was of a large, black bird that looked more like a crow than a woodpecker and that flew with the strong, steady flight of a crow or a jay, with none of the undulations common to so many woodpeckers. More

The Lewis's Woodpecker’s broad wings and slow wingbeats give it a very different flight style than other woodpeckers. Vocalizations - Calls include soft "churr" notes or a dry rattle. Similar Species - * No other woodpecker has the unusual dark greenish upperparts (which often appear black) or salmon belly. More

Lewis's Woodpeckers enjoy a close association with open-canopy forests like ponderosa pine, riparian woodlands dominated by cottonwood, and burned pine forests. However, this has made the woodpecker susceptible to habitat loss and degradation and such areas disappear from our lands. As a result, the species may have experienced up to a 60% population reduction in less than the last fifty years. This woodpecker can be particularly aggressive in defending winter food-stores. Territoriality can be intra- and interspecific. More

Lewis's WoodpeckerMelanerpes lewis Order PICIFORMES – Family PICIDAE Issue No. 284 Authors: Tobalske, Bret W. * Articles * Multimedia * References Courtesy Preview This Introductory article that you are viewing is a courtesy preview of the full life history account of this species. The remaining articles (Distribution, Habitat, Behavior, etc. More

Lewis's Woodpecker The Lewis's Woodpecker Lewis (Melanerpes lewis) is a large North American species of woodpecker which was named for Meriwether Lewis, one of the explorers who surveyed the areas bought by the United States of America during the Louisiana Purchase. Description: One of the largest species of American woodpeckers, Lewis's Woodpecker can be as large as 10 to 11 inches in length. It is mainly a blackish-green in color with a black rump. More

Lewis's Woodpecker: Four to nine white eggs are laid in a cavity in a dead stump or tree limb, often at a considerable height. Incubation ranges from 13 to 14 days and is carried out by both parents. Foraging and Feeding Lewis's Woodpecker: About one-third of its diet consists of acorns, which it stores in cracks and bark furrows; also eats insects such as ants, crickets, and grasshoppers, also berries, pine nuts, juniper berries, cherries, and apricots. More

Lewis's Woodpeckerby Don DesJardin 6 months ago 6 months ago: Wed, Nov 4, 2009 10:07pm EST (Eastern Standard Time) More More See all Show meDon DesJardin's videos * Don DesJardin's videos * Staff Picks 157. Lazuli Bunting by Don DesJardin16 days ago 156. Black-necked Stilt by Don DesJardin22 days ago 155. Black-throated Sparrow by Don DesJardin1 month ago 154. Cactus Wren by Don DesJardin1 month ago 153. More

Lewis's Woodpecker nests in a cavity excavated from a dead tree branch. The nest is constructed mainly by the male. The female will lay between 5 and 9 eggs, which are plain white in coloration. Incubation is done by both sexes More

A dark woodpecker of open woodlands, the Lewis's Woodpecker is found westward of the Great Plains. Its slow, deliberate flight reminds one of a crow or jay more than a woodpecker. Cool Facts Photo taken from: The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America by David Allen Sibley * The Lewis's Woodpecker seldom, if ever, excavates wood for boring insects. More

Ecology: The Lewis's woodpecker is a cavity nester, excavating a hole in tall trees, often dead or blackened by fire (DeGraaf et al. 1991; Stokes 1996; Ehrlich et al. 1988). It will also nest in utility poles, or stumps, but prefers ponderosa pine, cottonwood, or sycamore. The male selects the site but both male and female excavate the cavity (Ehrlich et al. 1988). More

Lewis's Woodpecker, Melanerpes Lewis = the lewis's woodpecker likes oak trees like this valley oakDiet of the Lewis's woodpecker The majority of the Lewis's woodpeckers diet consists of insects. They hawk and glean insects in oak woodlands and coniferous forests. The Lewis's woodpecker also eats fruits, nuts, and seeds. The Lewis's woodpecker also stores acorns and may compete with Acorn woodpeckers for their stashes. More

of Lewis's Woodpeckers in British Columbia. An increased awareness of the importance of maintaining brush and undergrowth to support insect populations is required. This undergrowth also provides berries and seeds which are a vital source of food for this woodpecker. The continued survival of this woodpecker would be assisted by protecting their important habitats, particularly nest sites. More