Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Least Concern · IUCN Red List

LCLeast ConcernInvertebratesWoodlandCavity nestMedium · 106 g

What the Lewis's Woodpecker sounds like

Sonogram of the Lewis's Woodpecker: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Four Mile Draw Rd, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Lewis's Woodpecker: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Four Mile Draw Rd, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto
Sonogram of the Lewis's Woodpecker: time runs left to right, pitch bottom to top, and the brighter the mark the louder the sound.
Recorded by Jonathon Jongsma · Call · Four Mile Draw Rd, Custer State Park, South Dakota, United States · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via xeno-canto

ID tip

One of the largest species of American woodpeckers, Lewis's woodpecker can measure up to 10–11 inches (25–28 cm) in length. It is mainly reddish-breasted, blackish-green in color, with a black rump. It has a gray collar and upper breast, with a pinkish belly, and a red face. The wings are much broader than those of other woodpeckers, and it flies at a much more sluggish pace with slow, but even flaps similar to those of a crow. Its calls have a harsh sound relative to other woodpeckers', and it may use a repertoire of several phrases.

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Lewis's Woodpecker

One bar for each month, and every month is filled: this bird is recorded here in all twelve. The wide bar is May, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Lewis's Woodpecker

Regular range

The map shades 3 countries with regular records. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

About the Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's woodpecker is a large North American species of woodpecker which ornithologist Alexander Wilson named after Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was one of the explorers who surveyed the areas bought by the United States of America as part of the Louisiana Purchase and first described this species of bird.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Side by side: Lewis's Woodpecker vs Red-crowned Woodpecker · Hoffmann's Woodpecker vs Lewis's Woodpecker · Black-cheeked Woodpecker vs Lewis's Woodpecker · Lewis's Woodpecker vs Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Learn the Lewis's Woodpecker in the BeakBrain App

Photo and call practice. Coming soon to iPhone and Android.

Play today's Daily Bird

Every photo and recording on this page is credited to its author under the licence shown. Spotted a problem with this page, or have a better photo? Contribute.