ExploreBirds

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Lewis's Woodpecker is a colorful bird with a bright green back and a pink belly. They love to eat insects and can often be seen flying around trees looking for food.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Lewis's Woodpecker has an iridescent green-black back and wings, a gray collar, and a unique pinkish-red belly. Its deep red face contrasts with its otherwise dark head, making it look unlike a typical spotted woodpecker.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumChordataClassAvesOrderPiciformesFamilyPicidaeGenusMelanerpes
Lewis's Woodpecker
feathered trait badgesocial trait badgeaerial trait badgecolorful trait badge
Lewis's Woodpecker

Category

Birds

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

6

Interesting facts

Their iridescent feathers shimmer with green and pink in bright sunlight!

These unique woodpeckers migrate thousands of kilometers to warmer places!

They often nest in old cavities created by larger woodpeckers!

Unlike most woodpeckers, they rarely drum on trees to find food.

Special abilities

Ability

Insect Acrobat

Lewis's Woodpecker can catch flying insects in mid-air because of its agile flight, unlike most woodpeckers.

Ability

Winter Pantry Builder

Lewis's Woodpecker has a unique ability to store thousands of nuts and acorns in tree crevices for winter food.

Ability

Fire Forager

Lewis's Woodpecker can thrive in recently burned forests, finding abundant insects in dead trees that other birds avoid.

Measurements & details

Length
26-28 cm
Wingspan
49-53 cm
Weight
0.091-0.138 kg
Lifespan
4-10 years
Top Speed
55 km/h
Clutch Size
4-9
Incubation
12-16 days
Migration Distance
1000 km

Diet & Feeding

These woodpeckers eat flying insects caught in the air, along with nuts, acorns, and berries.

Primary Foods

  • Flying Insects
  • Acorns
  • Berries
  • Cherries
  • Grasshoppers

Foraging Methods

  • Pursuit
  • Foraging

Ecological connections

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Lewis's Woodpecker?

The easiest way to identify Lewis's Woodpecker is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.

How long is Lewis's Woodpecker?

26-28 cm

What is Lewis's Woodpecker's wingspan?

49-53 cm

How much does Lewis's Woodpecker weigh?

0.091-0.138 kg

How long does Lewis's Woodpecker live?

4-10 years

How fast can Lewis's Woodpecker move?

55 km/h

What does Lewis's Woodpecker eat?

These woodpeckers eat flying insects caught in the air, along with nuts, acorns, and berries.

Where is Lewis's Woodpecker usually found?

Forests

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

Loading map…

Recent Snaps

Where to spot

More Birds