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Photo by Dave Menke
Photo Courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Lewis's woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
NatureServe conservation status
Global (G-rank): G4
State (S-rank): S2
External links
Species range
Lewis’s woodpeckers range across western North America, from British Columbia to New Mexico and California to Colorado, largely coinciding with ponderosa pine distribution (Abele et al. 2004, Parrish et al. 1999, DeGraaf et al. 1991, Diem and Zeveloff 1980). Its presence is spotty and discontinuous (Sauer et al. 2001). In Utah, it is found statewide, particularly along mountain ranges and adjacent valleys (ebird 2019, Sauer et al. 2001), with winter concentrations in the Wasatch Mountains and southwest corner of the state (Vierling 2013). Utah holds a significant portion of its overall range.
Habitat
Walters and Sorensen (1983) listed the known nesting habitats in Utah as agricultural orchards, shelterbelts, and tree farms, montane riparian woodlands (including narow-leafed cottonwood, big-toothed maple, boxelder, river birch, dogwood, alder, willows, etc., at lower elevations), and desert riparian woodlands (including Fremont cottonwood, willows, etc., at lower elevations); they considered this species also to utilize submontane shrub (including Gambel's oak, dwarf maple, and mountain mahogany) during the breeding season. They considered this species to use the above habitats as well as urban residential areas, parks, golf courses, and cemetaries during migration and winter.
Ecology
This species specializes in open ponderosa pine forests and cottonwood riparian areas for breeding (Saab and Veirling 2001, Parrish et al. 1999), often including a brushy understory, perches, and abundant standing dead trees, commonly found post-fire. While often considered a post-fire specialist, their use of burned areas varies by region, burn size, and severity.
Unlike most woodpeckers, Lewis’s woodpeckers forage by catching large, flying insects in the air, utilizing open forest canopies and brushy understories for hunting perches (Vierling et al. 2013). Their less robust bills limit their ability to drill for insects, so they prefer to nest in soft, decaying trees or pre-existing cavities (Abele et al. 2004). Some individuals, especially in the northern range, migrate locally or regionally (Vierling et al. 2013). In winter, they use sites with ample food storage, such as cracked power poles and furrowed tree bark (Tashiro-Vierling 1994), and also frequent orchards and oak woodlots when insects are scarce (Bock 1970).
Threats or limiting factors
The main threat to the Lewis’s woodpecker is habitat loss due to fire suppression and improper forest management (Abele et al. 2004), which increase tree densities in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests. This reduces open-canopy breeding and foraging habitat, limits insect prey, decreases accessible foraging areas, and restricts nesting cavities (Parrish et al. 1999, Morgan 1994, Abele et al. 2004). Competition for nesting cavities from non-native European starlings is also a threat (Parrish et al. 1999).
