Leuconotopicus villosus
The Hairy Woodpecker is a bold and bright forest bird that occurs almost throughout North America. They are regular and welcome visitors to backyard bird feeders, although less common than the similar Downy Woodpecker.
Hairy Woodpecker
Female Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker resting on a branch
Female Hairy Woodpecker perching on the end of a branch
Hairy Woodpecker feeding on insects
The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized black and white woodpecker with a long black bill and a fine white ring around each eye. They have black wings with some white spotting, a white patch in the middle of the back, and all-white underparts from the throat to the tail. Their head is boldly marked with a black crown, a broad black stripe through each eye, and a black streak from the base of the bill to the shoulder.
The seventeen known subspecies can be distinguished by distribution and differences in plumage colors and patterns. There is notable variation in color between birds from the West and those from the East. Western populations are browner below and have fewer spots on their wings.
Females are very similar to males but reasonably easy to distinguish by comparing their head color. Females have all-black crowns, while males have a small red spot on the back of the head. Juveniles have similar plumage to adults but are generally duller. Young males are distinguished by a red crown.
Hairy Woodpeckers are most easily mistaken for the more common Downy Woodpecker, although that species is smaller and has a shorter bill. Check out this guide for more tips on telling these two birds apart.
Hairy Woodpecker Male
Hairy Woodpecker Female
Hairy Woodpeckers vary in size across their range. They average a little over 9 inches (23 cm) long but vary between 7 and 10 inches (18 - 25 cm).
They have an average weight of about 2½ ounces (70g) but vary between 1.4 and 3.4 ounces (40 - 96g).
Adults have a wingspan of 13 to 17 inches or 33 to 41 centimeters.
Hairy Woodpecker perched on a branch
Hairy Woodpeckers produce a squeaking ‘Peek’ call, either as a single note or in a rapid series. In typical woodpecker fashion, these birds also drum on wood as a form of communication. They drum a rapid burst of about 25 taps in a single second but then pause for about 20 seconds before repeating.
Hairy Woodpecker calling out
Hairy Woodpeckers are mostly insectivorous. They prefer insects and larvae that live in wood and under the bark, but they also eat crawling insects on the trunk and foliage. These birds supplement their diet with nuts and berries and often eat suet at backyard bird feeding stations.
Hairy Woodpeckers feed their chicks small insects. Both males and females work together to provide a steady supply of food.
Hairy Woodpecker adult feeding its young
Hairy Woodpeckers inhabit various well-wooded habitats, from mixed, deciduous, and coniferous forests to suburban backyards. They occur from sea level to over 10,000 feet in some parts of their range.
Hairy Woodpeckers are restricted to North America, where they occur from Alaska in the north to Panama in the south and from the Pacific coast to the Atlantic.
Hairy Woodpeckers spend most of their time in trees and other vegetation, although they will forage low on the trunk. They may drink water from the ground but usually find rainwater collected in trees.
Hairy Woodpeckers are common birds in suitable habitats. Estimates put the global population at nearly nine-million individuals.
Look out for Hairy Woodpeckers in woodlands, forests, gardens, and parks across the United States, especially in areas with mature tree cover. They are uncommon or absent from parts of the Southwest, Northwest, and much of Texas.
Hairy Woodpeckers are a widespread and common species in Canada and have increased significantly over the last fifty years or so. They occur throughout the year in every province and territory except Nunavut.
Hairy Woodpecker on the ground searching for food
Hairy Woodpeckers can live for up to fifteen years in captivity, although wild birds have a much shorter life expectancy.
Adult Hairy Woodpeckers are most at risk from accipiters like Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks, although other birds of prey and owls will hunt them when possible. Predators that take their eggs and chicks include snakes, squirrels, and Screech-owls.
Hairy Woodpeckers are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in the United States and the Migratory Birds Convention Act in Canada.
Hairy Woodpeckers are not endangered. They are listed as a ‘Least Concern’ species on the IUCN Red List, and their population is thought to be increasing.
Female Hairy Woodpecker foraging on the side of a tree trunk
Hairy Woodpeckers nest in tree cavities about a foot deep that they excavate themselves. They choose dead trees or living trees affected by fungal rot and prefer to build their nests on the underside of sloping branches where they are safe from flooding. They typically nest anywhere from three to sixty feet (1 - 18 m) above the ground in various tree species, including pines, firs, and birches.
Most Hairy Woodpeckers nest between April and July. Their timing varies depending on altitude and latitude, with birds in the north beginning latest. They produce a single brood each year, with incubation lasting about twelve days and chicks fledging four weeks later.
Hairy Woodpeckers lay three to six plain white eggs, each measuring right around an inch in length and a three-quarter inch across (25 x 18 mm).
Hairy Woodpeckers are monogamous and might even mate for life. Some pairs remain together outside of the nesting season.
Female Hairy Woodpecker outside the nest
Hairy Woodpecker looking out of the nest hole
Hairy Woodpeckers are territorial birds. They use drumming to defend their area but will use other displays and even physical conflict in some disputes. They may be aggressive toward their own species and other woodpeckers.
Hairy Woodpeckers are diurnal birds. They sleep in trees, usually in a cavity that they excavate themselves.
Hairy Woodpecker perched on a birch tree
Hairy Woodpeckers are resident birds. Only those from high-altitude mountainous habitats or areas in the far north of Canada and Alaska may move to warmer wintering grounds.
Hairy Woodpeckers are a native species in the United States.
Hairy Woodpecker taking off with a nut in its beak
Hairy Woodpeckers are attracted to forests and woodlands with medium to large trees. Birdwatchers with wooded gardens can attract these birds by setting out bird feeders or simply smearing food on the trunk of a suitable tree.
Hairy Woodpeckers feed and nest in a wide variety of coniferous, deciduous, and broadleaf evergreen trees across their range. They will forage in young growth but prefer larger mature trees for nesting.
Hairy Woodpeckers are not harmful to healthy trees, although they can cause damage to trees that are already dead or rotten. In fact, these birds are a great asset because they feed heavily on pests like the European corn borer moth larvae.
Hairy Woodpeckers often visit birdfeeders. They love energy-rich foods like peanut butter, suet, and sunflower seeds.
Hairy Woodpeckers take their name from the hair-like feathers on their back. However, this feature is not particularly eye-catching, so their size, bill length, and patterning are better ways to identify these common birds.
Length:
18cm to 25cm
Wingspan:
33cm to 43cm
Weight:
40g to 95g
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