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That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesHairy Woodpecker
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: villosus
Gr. pikos woodpecker
La. picus woodpecker
Gr. Circe, mythological daughter of Helios, changed Picus, son of Saturn, into a woodpecker
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. -oides resembling
La. villosus hairy, shaggy, rough
Nine to ten inches long. Black and white bands extending back from the beak across the top and sides of the head.
Red patch on the back of the male’s head. Black wings with white spots in rows.

White throat and underside. Straight black chisel beak. Often mistaken for a Downy Woodpecker, however the Hairy Woodpecker is larger.

Hairy woodpeckers inhabit deciduous forests, groves and parks throughout most of North and Central America and some Caribbean islands. In winter they venture out of deep forests and often to back yard bird feeders. Hairy woodpeckers in the far North and high elevations often migrate moderate distances for winter.
Their ubiquitous drumming and pounding are heard in forests. Their stance moving about and pecking on trees is braced with their strong tail feathers.
The painting shows the difference in size between the two downy woodpeckers and the larger hairy woodpecker, often mistaken for the former. Note the much shorter bill of downy woodpeckers in relation their head.
Hairy woodpeckers eat insects, which they mostly find in bark crevices of trees. It’s said they feel a moving insect’s vibration and hear insects munch on wood. They forage for various berries, seeds and nuts and they take sap.
Feed hairy woodpeckers suet, peanut butter, sunflower seeds and various nuts and fruits.
Attract hairy woodpeckers. Plant any of barberry, bayberry, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, choke cherry, Virginia creeper, dogwood, elderberry, wild grape, sour gum, juneberry, mulberry pokeberry, spicebush, strawberry, sumac and viburnum.

Males may begin chiseling several holes in the fall before selecting one to inhabit. Females and males occupy separate holes until the mating season when they often excavate a hole together.
Females lay four or five, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse
The Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse has a 6″ by 6″ floor, 14″ inside floor to ceiling, 1 5/8″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled countersunk pilot holes. Secure hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access.
Mount 12 feet or higher on a tree in a forest, forest edge, or grove. Remove everything and clean the box after the brood rearing season is past.
Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may also use this box.
Hairy Woodpecker
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: villosus
Gr. pikos woodpecker
La. picus woodpecker
Gr. Circe, mythological daughter of Helios, changed Picus, son of Saturn, into a woodpecker
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. -oides resembling
La. villosus hairy, shaggy, rough
Nine to ten inches long. Black and white bands extending back from the beak across the top and sides of the head.
Red patch on the back of the male’s head. Black wings with white spots in rows.
White throat and underside. Straight black chisel beak. Often mistaken for a Downy Woodpecker, however the Hairy Woodpecker is larger.

Hairy woodpeckers inhabit deciduous forests, groves and parks throughout most of North and Central America and some Caribbean islands. In winter they venture out of deep forests and often to back yard bird feeders. Hairy woodpeckers in the far North and high elevations often migrate moderate distances for winter.
Their ubiquitous drumming and pounding are heard in forests. Their stance moving about and pecking on trees is braced with their strong tail feathers.
The painting shows the difference in size between the two downy woodpeckers and the larger hairy woodpecker, often mistaken for the former. Note the much shorter bill of downy woodpeckers in relation their head.
Hairy woodpeckers eat insects, which they mostly find in bark crevices of trees. It’s said they feel a moving insect’s vibration and hear insects munch on wood. They forage for various berries, seeds and nuts and they take sap.
Feed hairy woodpeckers suet, peanut butter, sunflower seeds and various nuts and fruits.
Attract hairy woodpeckers. Plant any of barberry, bayberry, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, choke cherry, Virginia creeper, dogwood, elderberry, wild grape, sour gum, juneberry, mulberry pokeberry, spicebush, strawberry, sumac and viburnum.
Males may begin chiseling several holes in the fall before selecting one to inhabit. Females and males occupy separate holes until the mating season when they often excavate a hole together.
Females lay four or five, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
The Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse has a 6″ by 6″ floor, 14″ inside floor to ceiling, 1 5/8″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled countersunk pilot holes.
Secure hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access.
Mount 12 feet or higher on a tree in a forest, forest edge, or grove. Remove everything and clean the box after the brood rearing season is past.
Birdhouses at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may also use this box.
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Forum
Hairy Woodpecker
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: villosus
Gr. pikos woodpecker
La. picus woodpecker
Gr. Circe, mythological daughter of Helios, changed Picus, son of Saturn, into a woodpecker
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -idae appearance, resemblance
La. -oides resembling
La. villosus hairy, shaggy, rough
Nine to ten inches long. Black and white bands extending back from the beak across the top and sides of the head.
Red patch on the back of the male’s head. Black wings with white spots in rows.
White throat and underside. Straight black chisel beak. Often mistaken for a Downy Woodpecker, however the Hairy Woodpecker is larger.

Hairy woodpeckers inhabit deciduous forests, groves and parks throughout most of North and Central America and some Caribbean islands. In winter they venture out of deep forests and often to back yard bird feeders. Hairy woodpeckers in the far North and high elevations often migrate moderate distances for winter.
Their ubiquitous drumming and pounding are heard in forests. Their stance moving about and pecking on trees is braced with their strong tail feathers.
The painting shows the difference in size between the two downy woodpeckers and the larger hairy woodpecker, often mistaken for the former. Note the much shorter bill of downy woodpeckers in relation their head.
Hairy woodpeckers eat insects, which they mostly find in bark crevices of trees. It’s said they feel a moving insect’s vibration and hear insects munch on wood. They forage for various berries, seeds and nuts and they take sap.
Feed hairy woodpeckers suet, peanut butter, sunflower seeds and various nuts and fruits.
Attract hairy woodpeckers. Plant any of barberry, bayberry, blackberry, blueberry, black cherry, choke cherry, Virginia creeper, dogwood, elderberry, wild grape, sour gum, juneberry, mulberry pokeberry, spicebush, strawberry, sumac and viburnum.
Males may begin chiseling several holes in the fall before selecting one to inhabit. Females and males occupy separate holes until the mating season when they often excavate a hole together.
Females lay four or five, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse
The Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse has a 6″ by 6″ floor, 14″ inside floor to ceiling, 1 5/8″ diameter entrance hole located 11″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Assemble with corrosion resistant screws fit to pre-drilled countersunk pilot holes. Secure hinged roof with shutter hooks for easy access.
Mount 12 feet or higher on a tree in a forest, forest edge, or grove. Remove everything and clean the box after the brood rearing season is past.
Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may also use this box.