Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

With its iridescent green-black plumage and rosy belly, this unusual woodpecker often catches insects mid-air like a flycatcher.

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Visual Identification

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.

Size

Length

26cm to 28cm

Wingspan

49cm to 52cm

Weight

88g to 138g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Green Red Pink

Secondary Colour

Grey Black

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Lewis's Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Lewis's Woodpecker can be found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Lewis's Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Lewis's Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons