ExploreBird

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

The Hairy Woodpecker is a black-and-white bird that loves to peck on trees! It has a long tongue to catch bugs hiding in the bark. You can often hear its loud tapping in the forest.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird, predominantly black and white. It has a prominent white stripe down its back and a white face with two black stripes. Males feature a small red patch on the back of their head, distinguishing them from the plain-headed females.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPiciformesFamilyPicidaeGenusLeuconotopicus

Hairy Woodpecker

Interesting facts

Hairy Woodpeckers often nest in dead trees, which they expertly carve into cozy homes!

Their drumming isn't just for finding food; it's also how they communicate with other woodpeckers!

These smart birds sometimes follow pileated woodpeckers to find fresh holes with insects!

Unlike many birds, both male and female Hairy Woodpeckers take turns incubating their eggs.

Special abilities

Hairy Woodpeckers have a thick, spongy skull that helps them absorb impacts, protecting their brain while pecking.

Hairy Woodpecker can extend its long, barbed tongue far into tree crevices to spear and extract hidden insects.

Hairy Woodpeckers have strong, stiff tail feathers and special two-forward, two-backward toes that help them cling to tree trunks.

Hairy Woodpecker has a powerful, chisel-like beak for drilling holes into dead or decaying wood to find beetle larvae.

Measurements & details

Length: 18-26 cm
Wingspan: 33-41 cm
Weight: 0.04-0.095 kg
Lifespan: 1-15 years
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Clutch Size: 3-6
Incubation: 11-14 days

Diet & Feeding

These woodpeckers munch mostly on insects found in wood, but also enjoy seeds and berries!

Primary Foods

wood-boring beetle larvae
ants
caterpillars
sap
berries
seeds

Foraging Method

Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Mountain Pine Beetle

Dendroctonus ponderosae

Feeds on larvae

eaten by

Cooper's Hawk

Accipiter cooperii

Predates on adults

shelters

Eastern Bluebird

Sialia sialis

Uses abandoned cavities

depends on

Eastern White Pine

Pinus strobus

Provides habitat and food

Traits

Feathered

These are animals covered in soft, beautiful feathers that help them fly, stay warm, and even attract mates! Think of all the amazing birds you know.

Social

Discover creatures that love to live and work together! These animals form groups, helping each other find food, stay safe, and raise their young.

Arboreal

Climb high with animals who love living in trees! These agile creatures find their food, shelter, and even raise their families among the branches.

Insectivorous

Discover clever creatures that specialize in munching on insects, playing a super important role in keeping bug populations in check. They are nature's tiny bug vacuums!

Tool Use

Discover amazing animals that cleverly use objects from their environment to help them find food, build homes, or protect themselves. They're nature's clever inventors!

Forest

These lush habitats are filled with countless trees, offering homes to a huge variety of plants and animals! Immerse yourself in the green canopy.

Longevous

Marvel at organisms that have an incredible capacity to live for a very, very long time, sometimes spanning centuries or even millennia. They are the elders of the natural world!