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70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

70birds

That Nest in Birdhouses

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.

Painting of hairy woodpecker perched on the side of a dead tree trunk in a snowy country setting.

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

USGS map shows hairy woodpeckers inhabit forests, groves and parks throughout most of North America wherever there are trees.

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.

Painting demonstrates size difference between a hairy woodpecker and two smaller downy woodpeckers.

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.

Visit the Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Page.
Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse
Print or just view hairy woodpecker birdhouse plansHairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans

Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may also use this box.

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Hairy Woodpecker

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Hairy woodpecker perched on a fallen tree trunk in a wintery setting.

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.

USGS map shows hairy woodpeckers inhabit forests, groves and parks throughout most of North America wherever there are trees.

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.

Painting of a hairy woodpecker and two downy woodpeckers on a tree trunk in a wintery forest.

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.

Visit the Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Page.

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.

Select to view or print the Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans.

Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans

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.

Hairy woodpecker perched on a fallen tree trunk in a wintery setting.

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

USGS map shows hairy woodpeckers inhabit forests, groves and parks throughout most of North America wherever there are trees.

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.

Painting of a hairy woodpecker and two downy woodpeckers on a tree trunk in a wintery forest.

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.

Visit the Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Page.
Hairy Woodpecker Birdhouse
Print or just view hairy woodpecker birdhouse plansHairy Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans

Chickadees, nuthatches, and downy woodpeckers may also use this box.

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