A medium-sized black-and-white woodpecker that's essentially a larger, longer-billed version of the downy. Pairs maintain large permanent territories in mature forests.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The hairy woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found over a large area of North America. It is approximately 250 mm (9.8 in) in length with a 380 mm (15 in) wingspan. With an estimated population in 2020 of almost nine million individuals, the hairy woodpecker is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern. The species was previously placed in the genus Dryobates.
Source: Wikipedia — Hairy woodpecker Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Medium black-and-white woodpecker with a clean white back stripe, a long bill roughly as long as the head is deep, and unmarked white outer tail feathers; male has a red nape patch.
Similar species. Downy Woodpecker is smaller with a much shorter bill and black-spotted outer tail feathers; bill length is the best mark.
Voice. A sharp, hard 'peek!' (higher and sharper than Downy) and a loud, even rattle that stays level in pitch.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Insects (especially wood-boring beetle larvae), some fruits and seeds.
Behavior. A widespread woodpecker of mature forests that excavates for wood-boring insects; often follows Pileated Woodpeckers to glean from their excavations.
§ Range
Across most of North America
§ Habitat
Mature deciduous and mixed forests
§ Threats
Loss of large dead trees, climate-driven range shifts.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the hairy woodpecker is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Leave dead trees standing where safe. Plant native trees. Skip pesticides on trees.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Hairy woodpecker
- www.allaboutbirds.org — authoritative profile of Leuconotopicus villosus
- IUCN Red List — search for Leuconotopicus villosus
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Leuconotopicus villosus
§ Sources cited
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology — All About Birds
- National Audubon Society
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List
