Lewis's Woodpecker
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Cavity Nester ⌀ 2.5" Large

Lewis's Woodpecker

Melanerpes lewis

Striking western woodpecker with iridescent green-black back, dusty pink belly, and silver collar. Hunts flying insects from open perches like a flycatcher, one of the most distinctive birds of the American West.

IUCN Red List
Least Concern

Widespread and abundant; no known immediate threats to the population.

Floor
6" × 6"
Interior height
14"
Entrance hole
⌀ 2.5"
Mount height
12–20 ft
Breeds
May–Jul
Broods / yr
1
Cool Facts

Things you didn't know about the Lewis's Woodpecker

01

Named for Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, who first scientifically described it in 1804.

02

Behaves more like a flycatcher than a woodpecker, hawks for insects on the wing rather than excavating bark.

03

Population has declined by over 70% since 1970 due to loss of open old-growth and post-burn forest habitat.

04

The only North American woodpecker with a pink belly; the iridescent green-black back can look entirely black in poor light.

Range & Habitat

Where you'll find them

Resident or short-distance migrant in open western forests from southern BC south through the Rockies and Pacific states to northern Mexico.

By region
  • Western US

    Breeds in open pine and oak forests from Oregon and Idaho south through California, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and into the highlands of northern Mexico.

  • Pacific Northwest & Rockies

    Most common in burned-over and selectively logged pine forests with abundant standing snags.

open pine forests burned forests oak woodlands
10-year local observation heatmap. Click a season above to isolate one band.
Fledgemade Kit

The right house for the Lewis's Woodpecker

Size L

Large body + 2½" panel

Body sized to 6"×6" floor. The 2½" panel locks out larger nest competitors while letting the Lewis's Woodpecker pass cleanly.

Multi-color presets
Color
Entrance hole size
$59
Seasonal Care

When to install. When to clean.

Install by
By late April
Cleaning
Once a year, October
Winter use
Yes, overnight roosts
Western US
Resident or short-distance migrant; install by late April.

Catches flying insects on the wing like a flycatcher, unusual for a woodpecker.