# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Lewis's Woodpecker](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lewis's_Woodpecker.jpg&width=800) Photo: http://www.naturespicsonline.com/, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lewis's_Woodpecker.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Melanerpes ## 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 - **Insect Acrobat:** Lewis's Woodpecker can catch flying insects in mid-air because of its agile flight, unlike most woodpeckers. - **Winter Pantry Builder:** Lewis's Woodpecker has a unique ability to store thousands of nuts and acorns in tree crevices for winter food. - **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 - **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 - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Preys on birds in open habitats. - **Eats:** [Gambel Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gambel-oak) (*Quercus gambelii*) — Consumes its acorns, storing many. - **Eats:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — Hunts these insects in flight. - **Depends on:** [Mountain Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/mountain-bluebird) (*Sialia currucoides*) — Competes for natural tree cavities. ## 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. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [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. - [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 Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Lewis's 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 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 ## Where to spot - [Lake Missoula](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lake-missoula) — Montana, US · Natural Landmark - [San Joaquin Experimental Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-joaquin-experimental-range) — California, US · Forest - [Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/craters-of-the-moon-national-monument-and-preserve) — Idaho, US · National Park - [Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cumbres-and-toltec-scenic-railroad) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Kelly's Camp Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kellys-camp-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District [View all places to see Lewis's Woodpecker](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/lewiss-woodpecker) ## 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: [Lewis's Woodpecker: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lewiss-woodpecker)