Lewis's Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Also known as: Lewis' Woodpecker
About This Species
A distinctive woodpecker of open pine woodland, burned forest and riparian cottonwood stands in western North America, often seen flycatching from an exposed perch rather than drilling on trunks like most woodpeckers. Look for a dark, glossy greenish back and pinkish belly in flight, with slow, crow-like wingbeats distinguishing it from other woodpeckers. Burned or open-canopy forest in summer is the most reliable habitat, when it is actively hawking insects on the wing.
Ethical Viewing Guidelines
- Nesting in dead snags, so keep well back from any cavity showing activity, since nest failure from disturbance is a known concern for this species in parts of its range.
- It receives conservation attention in some US states due to habitat loss from fire suppression and snag removal, so avoid disturbing burned-forest habitat it depends on.
- A stationary vantage point at range with binoculars is preferable to approaching a perched or nesting bird directly.
LCAvesPiciformesPicidae
Seasonal Activity
158,395 sightings · 2000–2026
Citizen science records via GBIF
All monthsThis month
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Aves
- Order
- Piciformes
- Family
- Picidae
Photo
(c) Ad Konings, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Ad Konings
CC-BY-NC-4.0
Occurrence data from GBIF.