Lewis’s Woodpecker

Physical Characteristics

The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a large, dark woodpecker of western North America, notable for its unusual coloration and graceful flight:

Head and Face:
They have a dark greenish-black head with a red face and throat. The contrasting pinkish-red facial patch is distinctive and one of the best field marks.

Beak:
The beak is straight, medium-length, and gray-black, well-suited for catching insects in flight as well as foraging on bark.

Plumage:
Their plumage is highly distinctive among woodpeckers: the back, wings, and tail are glossy greenish-black; the collar and upper chest are gray; and the belly is a deep rose-pink. The striking tri-color pattern makes them unmistakable.

Body and Build:
They have a stocky build with broad wings and a longer tail compared to many woodpeckers. Their wing structure allows for slow, crow-like flight, different from the bounding flight typical of most woodpeckers.

Size:

• Length: 10 to 11 in (25 to 28 cm)

• Wingspan: 19 to 20 in (48 to 51 cm)

• Weight: 3.1 to 4.9 oz (88 to 138 g)

The Lewis’s Woodpecker’s dark, iridescent plumage, pink belly, and crow-like flight style set it apart from all other North American woodpeckers.

Reproduction

The reproductive cycle of the Lewis’s Woodpecker is adapted to open woodlands and areas with abundant dead trees for nesting:

1. Courtship and Pair Formation:
Courtship begins in spring, with aerial displays, chases, and calling. Once paired, Lewis’s Woodpeckers are monogamous for the breeding season, and some pairs may reunite in successive years.

2. Breeding Season:
Breeding typically occurs from May to July, though timing varies by latitude and food availability.

3. Nesting:
Pairs excavate nest cavities in dead or decaying trees, utility poles, or snags, often near open areas for foraging. Old cavities may also be reused. Nest sites are usually 10 to 60 ft (3 to 18 m) above the ground.

4. Egg Laying:
The female lays 5 to 9 white eggs, more than most woodpecker species.

5. Incubation:
Incubation lasts about 12 to 14 days, with both parents sharing duties. The male often incubates at night while the female takes the day shift.

6. Chick Development:
Chicks hatch altricial (naked and helpless) and are fed insects and other food items by both parents. Parents regurgitate food into the chicks’ mouths.

7. Fledging and Independence:
Young fledge at about 4 to 5 weeks of age and may remain dependent on parents for feeding for a short period after leaving the nest.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker’s relatively large clutch size and cooperative parenting help offset high predation risks on eggs and chicks in open woodland environments.

Lifespan

The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a long-lived bird compared to many small passerines, though its survival depends on stable woodland habitats and food availability.

Lifespan in the Wild:
In their natural habitats of open pine forests, riparian woodlands, and oak savannas, Lewis’s Woodpeckers typically live about 5 to 10 years, with the oldest recorded individuals reaching 11+ years.

Lifespan in Captivity:
When protected from predators and provided with steady food, they may live longer, though detailed captive longevity records are limited. Some individuals can surpass 12 years in managed care.

Threats to the Lewis’s Woodpecker:

• Habitat Loss: Logging, fire suppression, and urban expansion reduce suitable nesting trees and open foraging habitats.

• Predation: Eggs and chicks are vulnerable to snakes, raccoons, and other birds such as starlings that also compete for cavities.

• Competition: They often compete with European Starlings and other cavity nesters for nesting sites.

• Climate Change: Shifts in insect availability and tree cover may affect their survival and reproduction.

Despite these challenges, Lewis’s Woodpeckers remain locally common in areas with abundant dead trees for nesting and open ground for aerial insect hunting.

Eating Habits

The Lewis’s Woodpecker has feeding habits that are highly unusual among woodpeckers, relying more on aerial foraging than drilling into trees:

Diet:
Their diet is diverse and seasonal. Insects form the bulk of their food in spring and summer, while fruits, berries, and nuts—especially acorns—become important in fall and winter.

Feeding Strategy:
Unlike most woodpeckers, Lewis’s Woodpeckers frequently catch insects in midair, using graceful, crow-like flight. They also glean insects from tree bark and ground surfaces. In autumn, they store acorns and other nuts in tree crevices for later use.

Role in Ecosystem:
By feeding heavily on flying insects, they reduce populations of pest species. Their habit of storing nuts also contributes to seed dispersal in woodlands.

Social Feeding Behavior:
They are more social than many woodpeckers, often foraging in loose groups and sharing abundant food sources such as insect swarms or fruiting trees.

Feeding Technique:
They sally out from perches to snatch flying insects, much like a flycatcher. They also use their strong bill to wedge acorns into crevices, hammering them in tightly for long-term storage.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker’s aerial hunting style, combined with its food-storing behavior, makes it one of the most unique and specialized woodpeckers in North America.

Uniqueness

The Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is one of the most distinctive woodpeckers in North America, both in appearance and behavior:

Unusual Plumage:
Unlike the typical black-and-white patterns of most woodpeckers, Lewis’s Woodpeckers display a glossy greenish-black back, gray collar, red face, and pink belly, making them unmistakable.

Aerial Foraging:
They are unique among woodpeckers for catching insects in flight, using slow, crow-like wingbeats instead of the bounding flight typical of other woodpeckers.

Food Storage Behavior:
Like Acorn Woodpeckers, they store nuts—especially acorns—by wedging them into tree crevices, creating caches to rely on during lean months.

Quiet Nature:
They drum less often than most woodpeckers and are relatively silent compared to other species, making them less conspicuous despite their bold appearance.

Habitat Specialist:
They thrive in open pine forests, oak savannas, and burned woodlands where standing dead trees provide nesting sites and open ground offers foraging opportunities.

Namesake:
They are named after the famous explorer Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who first documented the species in the early 19th century.

The Lewis’s Woodpecker’s striking coloration, flycatcher-like foraging, and acorn-storing behavior make it one of the most unusual and fascinating members of the woodpecker family.