From Opus

Melanerpes lewis

Photo by day5creations

[edit] Identification

27-29 cm. Metallic greenish black above; grey collar and breast; pinkish-red belly; dark red face framed with greenish black. Sexes alike.

[edit] Distribution

Most of the western United States west of the Dakotas, except rare in the coast states. Rare vagrant to the plains states. Casual vagrant to the northeast.

[edit] Taxonomy

[edit] Habitat

Open pine-oak woodlands, oak or cottonwood groves in grasslands, ponderosa pine country.

[edit] Behaviour

It lays 6-8 white eggs in a cavity in a dead stump or tree limb. The male makes the nest and both parents incubate for 12 days.

Diet includes flying insects; it also stores acorns and other nuts for winter, and sometimes damage fruit orchards.

[edit] External Links