Fauna
Bird

Hairy Woodpecker

Leuconotopicus villosus

Hairy woodpeckers are energetic forest foragers that excavate deep into decaying timber to extract wood-boring larvae, using a chisel-like bill nearly as long as their head. Both mates work together to carve nest cavities into dead trees or diseased branches, drumming in fast, evenly spaced bursts to declare their territory. As vital ecosystem engineers, they abandon their carved tree cavities each year, providing essential shelter for secondary cavity-nesting birds and small mammals.

Forest DwellerCavity NesterInsectivorous
Hairy Woodpecker reference
(c) CK2AZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK2AZ · cc-by
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyWood-boring beetle larvae, Carpenter ants, Bark beetles
Predators
  • Cooper's Hawk
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Eastern Screech-Owl
ThreatsRemoval of dead snags, forest fragmentation, and competition for nest holes from introduced starlings
HabitatsMature deciduous and coniferous forests, river woodlands, parks, and suburban woodlots
Life span4–10 years in the wild
Classification
  1. FamilyPicidae
  2. SpeciesLeuconotopicus villosus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Field ID: Check bill length against the head; a bill almost equal to head length confirms hairy, not downy.
  • Feeder Setup: Offer suet blocks or black oil sunflower seeds during late autumn and winter.
  • Yard Habitat: Preserve dead snags and decaying tree limbs safely to provide essential foraging and roosting spots.
Related species
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