Lewis' Woodpecker
The Lewis' woodpecker is named after Meriweather Lewis, leader of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It was during this famous exploration that several "black woodpeckers" were collected in Idaho and later named in honor of the explorer.
Where They Live: The range of the Lewis' woodpecker extends from Colorado to the Pacific Ocean, and from southern British Columbia to northwestern Mexico. They are fairly common within this region, and their favored habitat is open woodlands in foothills and valleys. These handsome birds can be found in riparian or streamside locations at elevations up to 9,000 feet. Over the central and southern portion of their range, Lewis' woodpeckers are permanent residents. Further north they gather in autumn flocks and migrate south for the winter.
What They Eat: In typical woodpecker fashion, Lewis' woodpeckers eat acorns, fruit, pine nuts and other tree nuts. These preferences sometimes bring them to feeders filled with sunflower seeds or nutmeats. Their predilection for fruit can present a problem in commercial orchards. On the other hand, they also relish garden pests such as grasshoppers, flies and beetles. In atypical woodpecker fashion, they frequently capture flying insects in mid-air. A Lewis' woodpecker will perch quietly watching for aerial morsels, then fly out to catch its prey and return to the hunting post.
Appearance: These 10- to 12-inch birds have dark, glossy, green-black feathers on their back, head, wings and tail. Adults have a gray collar and breast, red facial mask and pink belly. Lewis' woodpeckers fly with steady wing beats, unlike the flap-glide-flap pattern of most woodpeckers. They can sometimes be spotted perching on overhead wires.
Voice: Because their drumming is limited to mating season, these woodpeckers are relatively quiet birds. Listen for a "churr-churr-churr" call or an alarmed "yick" by the male when disturbed. You can distinguish the female if you hear "yick-ick."
Pileated Woodpecker
Where They Live: The pileated (pi-lee-ate-did) woodpecker is found from the northwestern United States and western Canada across the continent to Nova Scotia and south through much of the eastern states to Florida. They are wary, elusive and claim nesting territories as large as two hundred acres. So discovering pileated woodpeckers in the field, or having them visit a feeder, is a special treat. Pileated woodpeckers are deep woods residents, preferring to locate in mature climax forests with dense undergrowth.
What They Eat: Insects comprise 75% of the pileated woodpeckers' diet. But they also eat seeds and fruit and may visit backyards for suet. They dig deeply into soft wood searching for dormant insects, their favorite being carpenter ants. In fact, a sure sign of the presence of these shy birds are deep, oblong furrows carved in decayed wood. Such elongated excavations can be up to six feet in length, leaving large accumulations of wood chips at the base of a tree. Look closely at some of these wood shards and you likely will find them honeycombed with the tunnels of carpenter ants. The genus name of this woodpecker is "Dryocopus." It is the combination of two Greek words, krys (tree) and kopis (cleaver). The pileated woodpecker is the "tree cleaver" or "woodcutter" of the North American forest.
Appearance: It would be hard to mistake a pileated woodpecker for any other bird. At almost a foot-and-a-half in length, this stunning bird is the largest North American woodpecker. White face stripes and bright red crest contrast with their black bodies. Males sport a red mustache.
Voice Pileated woodpeckers have a loud, flicker-like call: "wuck-a-wuck-a-wuck-a." Like other woodpecker species, pileateds use drumming as a song substitute to repel other males and attract a female. Listen for their deep, resonating drumming in large wood tracts during early spring.
How Many Pecks Can a Woodpecker Peck?
And how he avoids a headache in the process!
Research indicates that a woodpecker can hammer 25-strokes-per-second with its head moving at a speed of more than 20-feet-per-second. Fortunately the bird is well suited to this behavior and its ecological niche. Its skull is thick and heavily ossified; there is shock-absorbing tissue between the eyes and around the skull; a spongy material, which helps lessen the impact of blows, separates skull and bill. A tough outer membrane surrounds the woodpecker’s brain so it doesn't bounce around. Its sharp, chisel-like bill is built to transmit the force of repeated beating to strengthened areas of bone at the front of the skull. Even its nostrils are well shielded. In some woodpeckers they are covered with fine, bristly feathers. In others they are reduced to narrow slits to keep them free from sawdust and woodchips generated by the bird's woodworking efforts.
Excerpted: Audubon magazine, Jan. and Feb., 1999.
House Wren
Where They Live: Found all across the U.S and southern Canada, house wrens inhabit brushy old fields and edges of woodlands. They migrate to the southern U.S. and Mexico for the winter but are among the earliest to arrive back north.
Nesting: House wrens are attracted to nest boxes with a small (one inch) entrance hole. They aggressively defend their nest site.
Appearance: Small (4.75 inches), drab, with strongly barred tail. Western birds are grayer; eastern birds browner.
Voice: Liquid, musical, loud, explosive -- appropriate for its aggressive behavior.
Carolina Wren
Where They Live: Carolina wrens inhabit the eastern half of the U.S. south of a line from Iowa to New York. During periods of mild winters they extend their range northward, only to die off during the next extremely cold winter. Recently, however, they seem to be weathering winters better, perhaps due to the high-fat, high-protein suet available at backyard feeders. Open woods, forest edges, thickets and brush piles are favored habitats.
Nesting: Carolina wrens nest in a variety of cavities and confined spaces, including old woodpecker holes, nest boxes and brush piles. Nests have been found in clothes pin bags and an old boot.
What They Eat: In addition to the typical wren diet, Carolina wrens visit feeders to eat suet, peanut butter mixes, nuts and mealworms.
Appearance: Chestnut brown above, buff below; white eyebrow stripe is distinctive; tail barred.
Voice: Loud, clear notes usually in pairs or triplets: "Chirpity! Chirpity! Chirpity!"
Cactus Wren
Where They Live: Common where cholla, mesquite and thorny shrubs thrive, especially southwestern deserts.
What They Eat: Insects, spiders, small lizards, some seeds and berries.
Nesting: Bulky, football-shaped nest of twigs/weeds.
Appearance: Large (8.5 inches) and distinctly marked; rusty crown; white eyebrow; strongly spotted breast; barred tail with feathers tipped in white.
Voice: Song is an unmusical, raspy series of notes.
Bewick's Wren
Where They Live: Bewick's wren (pronounced "Buick") occurs from coast to coast along the southern half of the United States. East of the Mississippi River they are rare and declining for unknown reasons. In the west, they are common. Favored habitats include open woods, old fields, forest edges and thickets.
Nesting: These cavity-nesters use a variety of artificial sites.
Appearance: Similar to Carolina, but duller. White-eye line is distinctive, and look for white corners on the tail, especially in flight.
Voice: Musical and variable; difficult to describe; combination of buzzes and trills.