General

Lewis's Woodpecker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black upperparts and hood. Face is red, collar is gray, and belly is pale red. Sexes are similar. Juvenile lacks red face and collar, and has less red on belly.

Range and Habitat

Lewis's Woodpecker: Breeds from southern British Columbia and Alberta south to central California, northern Arizona, and northern New Mexico. Spends winters from southern British Columbia and Oregon to Colorado and south to northern Mexico. Open pine-oak woodlands, oak, or cottonwood groves in grasslands, and ponderosa pine country are preferred habitats.

Breeding and Nesting

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.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Lewis's Woodpecker: Generally silent, but in the mating season, utters a chirring sound and a high-pitched, squalling "chee-up", repeated for long periods of time. Near the nest, the adults give a series of sharp "ick, ick, ick."

Similar Species

Lewis's Woodpecker: None in range.