Lewis’s Woodpecker.

By Michael Barry Lancaster

Lewis’s Woodpecker like the Yellow-breasted Chat is another charismatic and enigmatic part of the bird population in the Okanagan. It is part of a larger population in the USA but occupies the BC interior as far north as Cache Creek mainly in open Ponderosa Pine forest. In BC the species is a migrant.

In flight, the bird looks like a small crow, and unusually for a woodpecker it can glide. No doubt this has something to do with the fact that the species is highly insectivorous especially during the breeding season when it may be seen performing spectacular aerial gymnastics as it ‘hawks’ insects in the manner of a flycatcher. Thus it stands out from the usual concept of a woodpecker sitting in trees hammering away attempting to extract grubs, or merely demonstrating territorial drumming prowess. Lewis’s are capable of both activities.

It likes to nest in dead trees and that is where the pair on the dyke nested. An attempt was made last year but failed. This year using an old Northern Flicker hole they were successful. Two young were fledged, apparently the average number despite laying more eggs. Possibly this has something to do with availability of food and death of some nestlings? Both adults and young are still being seen on the ‘home’ tree at the time of writing (18th July).

Youngsters are not as gaudy as adults, lacking the red breast and much of the red face which develops quite quickly after leaving the nest. They are quite difficult to photograph as they usually perch high up. Although I have images of both adult and young, Kristen Mancuso ( Environment Canada) whilst attempting to catch Grey Catbirds on the east side of the river opposite the nest site had the incredible fortune to catch a juvenile Lewis’s – the image was taken using a cell ‘phone and much better than any of mine. I am grateful to Kristen for allowing me to use her image.

Details for my adult: Nikon P900, approx. 2000mm 160th sec @f6.3 (shot at top of article)