Leuconotopicus villosus
The Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) is a widespread and familiar medium-sized black and white woodpecker inhabiting diverse forest environments across North America and Central America. Measuring 7.1-10.2 inches (18-26 cm) in length, with a wingspan of 13-16 inches (33-41 cm), and weighing 1.4-3.4 oz (40-95 g), it is notably larger and boasts a significantly longer, more chisel-like bill compared to its diminutive look-alike, the Downy Woodpecker. Distinctive field marks include it...
Found in a wide range of forested habitats, including deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, woodlands, suburban parks, and even urban green spaces with mature trees, from sea level to high mountain elevations.
Primarily insectivorous, feeding on wood-boring beetle larvae, ants, caterpillars, and other insects found under bark or within wood, supplemented with some sap, nuts, and seeds, especially in winter. They forage by excavating, probing, and gleaning.
Hairy Woodpeckers are diurnal, spending their days actively foraging and communicating, typically roosting in tree cavities at night, often excavating a new one for warmth and safety. Their primary foraging strategy involves climbing tree trunks, spiraling upwards, and using their strong bill to ...
The Hairy Woodpecker boasts an expansive geographic distribution across most of North America, extending from the forested regions of Alaska and Canada, south through the contiguous United States, into Mexico, and further south through Central America to Panama. This species is largely resident t...
Least Concern
- The Hairy Woodpecker's brain is protected from concussive forces during drumming by a unique arrangement of spongy bone and a small brain size. - Despite their similar appearance, Hairy Woodpeckers are significantly larger than Downy Woodpeckers, with a bill nearly as long as their head, while ...