Hairy Woodpecker

## Description

The hairy woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus ) is a medium-sized woodpecker that is found over a large area of North America. It is approximately 250 mm (9.8 in) in length with a 380 mm (15 in) wingspan. With an estimated population in 2003 of over nine million individuals, the hairy woodpecker is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern. Some nomenclature authorities, such as the eBird/Clements checklist, place this species in the genus Dryobates.

## Appearance

Hairy woodpeckers are found over a large area of North America. Adults are mainly black on the upper parts and wings, with a white or pale back and white spotting on the wings; the throat and belly vary from white to sooty brown, depending on subspecies. There is a white bar above and one below the eye. They have a black tail with white outer feathers. Adult males have a red patch or two side-by-side patches on the back of the head; juvenile males have red or rarely orange-red on the crown.

## Distribution

Hairy woodpeckers are found in the Bahamas, Canada, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the United States. These birds are mostly permanent residents. Populations in the extreme north may migrate further south; birds in mountainous areas may move to lower elevations. Hairy woodpeckers inhabit mature deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forest, woodland, forest edges, and groves along rivers. They can also be found in parks, gardens and urban areas.

## Behavior

Hairy woodpeckers are generally solitary birds. They are active during the day spending most of their time looking for food. These birds forage on trees, often turning over bark or excavating to uncover insects. They also frequently visit bird feeders where they eating suet and sunflower seeds.

## Diet

Hairy woodpeckers and omnivores. They mainly eat insects, but also fruits, berries, and nuts, as well as tree sap and suet.

## Reproduction

Hairy woodpeckers are monogamous and form pairs that may stay together for more than one season. They usually breed between late March and early June. Mating pairs will excavate a hole in a tree, where they will lay, on average, 4 white eggs. Both parents will incubate the eggs for about 2 weeks. The chicks are altricial; they hatch blind, naked, and helpless. They fledge at about 28-30 days of age and remain with their parents for two weeks more.

## Population

### Population threats

Hairy woodpeckers are widespread and are not considered endangered at present. However, populations of these birds suffer from the fragmentation of their habitat and competition for nesting cavities with European starlings.

### Population number

According to the All About Birds resource the total breeding population size of the Hairy woodpecker is around 9 million birds. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are increasing.

## Fun Facts for Kids

The Hairy woodpecker is almost identical in plumage to the smaller Downy woodpecker. The Downy has a shorter bill relative to the size of its head, which is, other than size and voice, the best way to distinguish them in the field. Another way to tell the two species apart is the lack of spots on the Hairy woodpecker's white tail feathers which are present in the Downy.

Hairy woodpeckers express aggression by raising both wings over their back, stretching back their head, and producing shrill cries.

Hairy woodpeckers are able to hear the movements of the insects under the tree bark due to the vibrations they make.

In order to find food, Hairy woodpeckers may even peck at wooden window frames and wood-sided homes that may house prey.

The pecking behavior of woodpeckers causes the skull of these birds to heat up; this is part of the reason why they often peck in short bursts with brief breaks in between, giving the head some time to cool.