Aves (Birds): Passeriformes, Picidae
Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis)
Potential Occurrence: Nesting Unlikely to Occur
Status: (Nesting)
Federal: None
State: None
Other: USFWS:BCC
Species Description:
Art: WhatBird.com 2007
A medium-sized woodpecker, the Lewis's distinct coloration
differentiates it from other woodpeckers in the field. Its dark red face
contrasts with a gray collar and upper breast, and the remainder of the head is greenish-black, as
are its back, wings, and tail. The lower breast and belly are pink. In flight, the long wings make
deep, slow beats. It may also glide, and its overall flight pattern and dark coloring make it easily
mistaken for a crow or a jay. On average, the Lewis's Woodpecker grows to 10.75 inches with a
21 inch wingspan and weighs 4 ounces. (From Audubon 2002)
Distribution:
The range of this species covers much of the west, but its distribution can be patchy and
inconsistent from year-to-year. The breeding range overlaps the range of Ponderosa Pine in
North America, from southern British Columbia into southern New Mexico and from eastern South
Dakota to the Pacific Coast. Lewis's Woodpecker winters in the southern half of its breeding
range from Oregon, Utah, and Colorado south to the U.S.-Mexican border and into northern Baja
California. The distribution of this species has contracted, especially in western British Columbia,
western Washington, and southern California. Its range has expanded into southeastern
Colorado, most likely because of habitat changes: the presence of mature cottonwoods and corn.
(From Audubon 2002)
An uncommon, local winter resident occurring in open oak savannahs, broken deciduous, and
coniferous habitats. Found along eastern slopes of the Coast Ranges south to San Luis Obispo
Co. Also winters in the Central Valley, Modoc Plateau, and the Transverse and other Ranges in
southern California. Breeds locally along eastern slopes of the Coast Ranges, and in the Sierra
Nevada, Warner Mts., Klamath Mts., and in the Cascade Range. (From Ahlborn and Harvey
1990)
Life History & Threats:
Named after famed explorer Meriwether Lewis, Lewis's Woodpecker has uniquely dark coloring
and long wings. The members of its genus, Melanerpes (which means "black creeper"), are
unlike other woodpeckers in that they often catch insects in the air; and some of them, like the
Lewis's, forage on the ground. Lewis's slow wingbeats and frequent glides make a complex flight
pattern, similar to a jay's. (From Audubon 2007)
Forages primarily on insects in spring and summer. In summer, 60% of feeding time was spent
hawking insects, 30% foraging on ground and in brush, and 10% gleaning insects from trunks
and branches of trees (Bock 1970). In late summer and fall, fruits and berries eaten frequently.
Winter food mostly cached acorns, other nuts and seeds, and emerging insects. Caches acorns
and other nuts in crevices and holes for use in nonbreeding season. (From Ahlborn and
Harvey 1990)
Lewis's Woodpecker begins nesting in mid-spring, earliest in the southern and latest in the
northern part of its range. Pairs appear to be monogamous and may re-form each year on the
same territory, which the male defends with calls, like the rapid "churr." A weak roll followed by
several taps, drumming is done only in courtship. A raised wing display flashes the male's pink
underparts, to attract his mate and to warn intruders. Nesting is sometimes colonial. (From
Audubon 2007)
Lewis's Woodpeckers are monogamous and may form long-term pair bonds. Both members of
the pair excavate a hole in a decayed tree, typically a cottonwood or Ponderosa pine. The nest
consists of a wood-chip lining inside the hole. They commonly reuse nest sites. Both members of
the pair generally incubate the 6 to 7 eggs for 12 to 16 days. Both feed the young, which leave
the nest after 28 to 34 days. The young are dependent on the parents for some time after they
leave the nest. (From Birdweb 2008)
Lewis's Woodpecker permanently inhabits the southern half or more of its breeding range, but
northern populations evacuate their territories in late summer. Usually traveling in flocks and
always moving slowly at low altitudes (10 to 500 feet), these migrants do not appear to follow
traditional routes, but rather move through areas with the best food supplies. Migrants arrive on
their wintering grounds in mid-fall and depart in March or April. Flocks range in size from a few to
150 woodpeckers (From Audubon 2007)
Its close association with open-canopy forests (ponderosa pine and cottonwoods along rivers)
has made Lewis's Woodpecker susceptible to habitat loss and degradation. Fire suppression,
grazing, logging, and closely spaced seedlings have caused significant loses of open ponderosa
pine forests in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. (From Audubon 2007)
Loss of habitat and nest sites to land cultivation and development has reduced breeding
population in northern California (Bock 1970). Competition with acorn woodpeckers for stored
mast has been reported (Bock 1970). (From Ahlborn and Harvey 1990)
Habitat & Habitat Associations:
General Habitat:
Suitable habitat includes open, deciduous and conifer habitats with brushy understory, and
scattered snags and live trees for nesting and perching (Bock 1970). Uses logged and burned
areas. Prefers oaks and acorns in winter. (From Ahlborn and Harvey 1990)
Nesting Habitat:
Excavates nest cavity in snag or dead part of live tree, usually 1.5 to 24 m (5-80 ft) above ground
(Bock 1970, Raphael and White 1984). Usually nests in sycamore, cottonwood, oak, or conifer.
May nest near other pairs. (From Ahlborn and Harvey 1990)
Lewis’s Woodpeckers bred at elevations from 330 to 1100m, in habitats including, at the valley
bottom, open riparian cottonwood forests, mixed coniferous-broadleaved woodlands, open
ponderosa pine, and mixed ponderosa pine-Douglas fir grassland; on the upper parts of
surrounding hills, pure Douglas fir grassland. Live tree canopy cover at used sites ranged from
zero in heavily burned areas up to 36% in old growth riparian cottonwood and mixed coniferousbroadleaved woodlands. (From Xiang Zhu 2006)
Conceptual Basis for GIS Model Development: Potential general habitat (including nesting
habitat) in the Study Area for the Lewis’s Woodpecker was mapped as cismontane woodland
(i.e., mixed coniferous and broadleaved woodlands with canopy cover < 40%).
Potential Occurrence in the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve: Protection status for this species
applies to nesting individuals.
Habitat: Lewis’s Woodpeckers nest in snags in open mixed deciduous and coniferous
woodland, primarily in areas with Ponderosa Pine and Cottonwood. The habitat quality for this
species is poor to moderate in the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve, due to the lack of
cottonwoods and Ponderosa pine (Figure 93). Open mixed woodlands with other tree species
are, however, common. Snags, used by this species for nesting, are also present on the
Preserve; logging on the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve was discontinued in 2000 and large
snags are common..
Nearest Occurrence:
Documented Occurrences in the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve: This species has not
been documented in the Preserve. To our knowledge, no surveys have been conducted.
Nearest Occurrence to the Galbreath Wildlands Preserve: The Lewis’s Woodpecker has
not been reported to occur in USGS quads adjacent to the Study Area. They are known
to breed along the eastern slope of the Coast Ranges which are east of the Preserve
boundaries.
Summary: We anticipate that nesting Lewis’s Woodpeckers are “Unlikely to Occur” in the
Preserve because key species associates, Ponderosa Pine and Cottonwood, do not occur in
the Preserve, and breeding is thought to be more common in inland areas on the eastern slopes
of the Coast Ranges.
References
Audubon. 2007. Audubon Watchlist: Lewis’s Woodpecker. National Audubon Society.
<http://web1.audubon.org/science/species/watchlist/profile.php?speciesCode=lewwoo> 2010
July 25.
Ahlborn G and Harvey T. 1990. Lewis’s Woodpecker. California Wildlife Habitat Relationships
System. <http://nrm.dfg.ca.gov/FileHandler.ashx?DocumentID=1913> 2010 July 25.
Birdweb. 2008. Lewis’s Woodpecker. Seattle Audubon Society.
<http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=268> 2010 July 25.
WhatBird.com. 2007. Lewis Woodpecker Illustration. Wild Birds Unlimited. <http://whatbird.
wbu.com/obj/180/portrait/Lewiss_Woodpecker.aspx> 2010 July 25.
Zhu X. 2006 September. Habitat Selection and Reproductive Success of Lewis’s Woodpecker in
the South Okanagan Valley. The University of British Columbia. <https://circle.ubc.ca/
bitstream/handle/2429/18401/ubc_2006-0733.pdf?sequence=1> 2010 July 25.
Species Account Description: Emily Harvey