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Lewis's Woodpecker
Melanerpes lewis
Audubon Illustration
John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.
Range & Recent Observations
Last Spotted Near You
About the Lewis's Woodpecker
Lewis's woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is a large North American species of woodpecker which ornithologist Alexander Wilson named after Meriwether Lewis. Lewis was one of the explorers who surveyed the areas bought by the United States of America as part of the Louisiana Purchase and first described this species of bird.
Source: Wikipedia
Classification
- Scientific name
- Melanerpes lewis
- Family
- Woodpeckers
- Order
- Piciformes
Similar species
Other members of the woodpeckers family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.
- Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
- American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis
- Arizona Woodpecker Leuconotopicus arizonae
- Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus
- Black-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes pucherani
- Chestnut-colored Woodpecker Celeus castaneus
- Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens
- Eurasian Wryneck Jynx torquilla
- Gila Woodpecker Melanerpes uropygialis
- Gilded Flicker Colaptes chrysoides
- Golden-cheeked Woodpecker Melanerpes chrysogenys
- Golden-fronted Woodpecker Melanerpes aurifrons
Know when the Lewis's Woodpecker turns up near you
How rare bird alerts work →Gear for spotting Lewis's Woodpecker
Optics
Best Binoculars for Beginners
You don't need to spend a fortune. These four pairs will get you birding confidently on day one.
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Cameras
Cameras for Bird Photography
From phone adapters to dedicated rigs, here's what actually works for capturing birds in the field.
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