# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 56 - **Habitat:** Forests - **Also known as:** Hairy Woodpecker (Eastern), Hairy Woodpecker (Western) ![Hairy Woodpecker](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426587/objects/884.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Leuconotopicus ## 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 - **Head-Banger's Shield:** Hairy Woodpeckers have a thick, spongy skull that helps them absorb impacts, protecting their brain while pecking. - **Insect Snagger:** Hairy Woodpecker can extend its long, barbed tongue far into tree crevices to spear and extract hidden insects. - **Tree Grip:** Hairy Woodpeckers have strong, stiff tail feathers and special two-forward, two-backward toes that help them cling to tree trunks. - **Wood Carver:** 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 - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cooper-s-hawk) (*Accipiter cooperii*) — Predates on adults - **Shelter:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Uses abandoned cavities - **Depends on:** [Eastern White Pine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-white-pine) (*Pinus strobus*) — Provides habitat and food ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Tool Use](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tool-use): This trait describes organisms that manipulate external objects to achieve a specific goal. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Enjoy watching birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Hairy Woodpecker? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Hairy Woodpecker? 18-26 cm ### What is Hairy Woodpecker's wingspan? 33-41 cm ### How much does Hairy Woodpecker weigh? 0.04-0.095 kg ### How long does Hairy Woodpecker live? 1-15 years ### How fast can Hairy Woodpecker move? 50 km/h ### What does Hairy Woodpecker eat? These woodpeckers munch mostly on insects found in wood, but also enjoy seeds and berries! ### Where is Hairy Woodpecker usually found? Forests ## Where to spot - [Berry Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/berry-botanic-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cougar-mountain-regional-wildland-park) — Washington, US · Park - [Devil's Kitchen](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/devils-kitchen) — Michigan, US · Nature Reserve - [Discovery Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/discovery-park) — Washington, US · Nature Reserve - [Downtown Quincy Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/downtown-quincy-historic-district) — Illinois, US · Historic District - [Duke Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/duke-gardens) — New Jersey, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Hairy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/hairy-woodpecker) ## Watch - [Play video: Hairy Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/videos/hairy-woodpecker) - [YouTube](https://youtube.com/watch?v=2kQdaqrpSRI) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Hairy Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/hairy-woodpecker)