Lewis's Woodpecker

Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 5,239 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in May.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

Conservation status (iNaturalist): G4.

When to photograph Lewis's Woodpecker: observations by month (U.S.)

About Lewis's Woodpecker

The Lewis's woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is a large North American species of woodpecker which ornithologist Alexander Wilson named after Meriwether Lewis, one of the explorers who surveyed the areas bought by the United States of America as part of the Louisiana Purchase.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Lewis's Woodpecker by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Woodpeckers)

Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens

Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus

Northern FlickerColaptes auratus

Pileated WoodpeckerDryocopus pileatus

Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus

Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus

Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ