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That Nest in Birdhouses70birds
That Nest in BirdhousesLewis’s Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species: lewis
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
Gr. melas black
Gr. herpes a creeper
La. lewis for Meriwether Lewis
Lewis’s woodpeckers were identified by the Lewis and Clark Expedition near Helena, Montana in 1804.
A large woodpecker; 10 – 11 inches long. Upper parts, wings and tail green black with bronze luster. Dark crimson face. Narrow distinct collar around back of neck. Bluish gray breast. Pink underside. Resembles a Crow in flight.
They inhabit coniferous and mixed forests, groves and various sized tree stands throughout west of the Great Plains to the Pacific, north to Alberta and British Columbia, east to the Big Horn Mountains of Montana and Wyoming, Black Hills of South Dakota and the Colorado Plains, south to Arizona and New Mexico.
Unlike other woodpeckers, Lewis’s woodpeckers fly in straight paths with consistent laborious wing movements.
They forage for insects under the loose bark of trees and catch them in flight. They eat acorns, various other available nuts, small seeds, berries and other wild fruit.
Like red-headed woodpeckers, they store nuts which they wedge into bark crevices and cracks to be retrieved later.
Lewis’s woodpeckers nest in natural or abandoned tree cavities or ones they excavate themselves often in coniferous trees as much as two feet deep at heights from chest level up to extreme heights.
Sometimes they nest in bird houses of the right size in the right places.
Females lay six to eight, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
The Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse (same as for the Flicker, Pigmy Owl, Saw-Whet Owl, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Use wood stock rough-cut on both sides. Assemble with corrosion resistant screws.
Drill countersunk pilot holes in primary work pieces and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces to reduce wood splitting.
Attach the roof with hinges and lock in a closed position with shutter hooks.
Or some may prefer a fixed roof with a Side Opening Door.
Fill the box with large wood chips, not sawdust.
Mount this nest box 12 feet or higher on a tree at a forest edge, or grove.
Other woodpeckers and owls also may use this nest box.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
View/Print Plans
Although it is good practice to remove nests and clean boxes well after the brood rearing season is past, one might weigh the increased risks working at heights additional time(s) beyond the initial installation. Consider leaving the box, at least until a qualified trades worker is available.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species: lewis
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
Gr. melas black
Gr. herpes a creeper
La. lewis for Meriwether Lewis
Lewis’s woodpeckers were identified by the Lewis and Clark Expedition near Helena, Montana in 1804.
A large woodpecker; 10 – 11 inches long. Upper parts, wings and tail green black with bronze luster. Dark crimson face. Narrow distinct collar around back of neck. Bluish gray breast. Pink underside. Resembles a Crow in flight.
Lewis’s woodpeckers inhabit coniferous and mixed forests, groves and various sized tree stands throughout west of the Great Plains to the Pacific, north to Alberta and British Columbia, east to the Big Horn Mountains of Montana and Wyoming, Black Hills of South Dakota and the Colorado Plains, south to Arizona and New Mexico.
Unlike other woodpeckers, Lewis’s woodpeckers fly in straight paths with consistent laborious wing movements.
They forage for insects under the loose bark of trees and catch them in flight. They eat acorns, various other available nuts, small seeds, berries and other wild fruit.
Like red-headed woodpeckers, they store nuts which they wedge into bark crevices and cracks to be retrieved later.
Lewis’s woodpeckers nest in natural or abandoned tree cavities or ones they excavate themselves often in coniferous trees as much as two feet deep at heights from chest level up to extreme heights.
Sometimes they nest in bird houses of the right size in the right places.
Females lay a varying number of white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
The Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse (same as for the Flicker, Pigmy Owl, Saw-Whet Owl, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Use wood stock rough-cut on both sides. Assemble with corrosion resistant screws.
Drill countersunk pilot holes in primary work pieces and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces to reduce wood splitting.
Attach the roof with hinges and lock in a closed position with shutter hooks.
Or some may prefer a fixed roof with a Side Opening Door.
Fill the box with large wood chips, not sawdust.
Mount this nest box 12 feet or higher on a tree at a forest edge, or grove.
Other woodpeckers and owls also may use this nest box.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse
View/Print Plans
Although it is good practice to remove nests and clean boxes well after the brood rearing season is past, one might weigh the increased risks working at heights additional time(s) beyond the initial installation. Consider leaving the box, at least until a qualified trades worker is available.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Birds | Birdhouses | Plans | Home
Melanerpes lewis
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Melanerpes
Species: lewis
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
Gr. melas black
Gr. herpes a creeper
La. lewis for Meriwether Lewis
A large woodpecker; 10 – 11 inches long. Upper parts, wings and tail green black with bronze luster. Dark crimson face. Narrow distinct collar around back of neck. Bluish gray breast. Pink underside. Resembles a Crow in flight.
Lewis’s woodpeckers were identified by the Lewis and Clark Expedition near Helena, Montana in 1804.
Lewis’s woodpeckers inhabit coniferous and mixed forests, groves and various sized tree stands throughout west of the Great Plains to the Pacific, north to Alberta and British Columbia, east to the Big Horn Mountains of Montana and Wyoming, Black Hills of South Dakota and the Colorado Plains, south to Arizona and New Mexico.
Unlike other woodpeckers, Lewis’s woodpeckers fly in straight paths with consistent laborious wing movements.
They forage for insects under the loose bark of trees and catch them in flight. They eat acorns, various other available nuts, small seeds, berries and other wild fruit.
Like red-headed woodpeckers, they store nuts which they wedge into bark crevices and cracks to be retrieved later.
Lewis’s woodpeckers nest in natural or abandoned tree cavities or ones they excavate themselves often in coniferous trees as much as two feet deep at heights from chest level up to extreme heights.
Sometimes they nest in bird houses of the right size in the right places.
Females lay six to eight, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
The Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse (same as for the Flicker, Pigmy Owl, Saw-Whet Owl, and Grackle) has a 7″ by 7″ floor, 16″ inside ceiling, 2 1/2″ diameter entrance hole located 14″ above the floor and ventilation openings.
Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse
Use wood stock rough-cut on both sides. Assemble with corrosion resistant screws.
Drill countersunk pilot holes in primary work pieces and regular pilot holes in secondary work pieces to reduce wood splitting.
Attach the roof with hinges and lock in a closed position with shutter hooks. Or some may prefer a fixed roof with a Side Opening Door.
Lewis’s Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans
Fill the box with large wood chips, not sawdust.
Mount this nest box 12 feet or higher on a tree at a forest edge, or grove.
Other woodpeckers and owls also may use this nest box.
Installations at significant heights should be installed and maintained by professionals, carpenters, electricians, power line workers, etc.
Although it is good practice to remove nests and clean boxes well after the brood rearing season is past, one might weigh the increased risks working at heights additional time(s) beyond the initial installation. Consider leaving the box, at least until a qualified trades worker is available.
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