Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) Emma Pitcher & Anna Kornoelje Whitefish Point Bird Observatory, Chippewa Co., MI (Click to view a comparison of Atlas I to II) April, 2006 © Al Menk The Hairy Woodpecker is a familiar mottled of forests. It will also nest in wooded suburban areas and mature wooded riparian corridors black and white resident of woodlands all across (Jackson et al. 2002). Further, research shows North and Central America. This woodpecker is that Hairy Woodpecker population densities just slightly larger than its look-alike, the increase between one and five years after the Downy Woodpecker and, like the smaller bird, occurrence of forest fires (Hobson and Shieck the male has a small red patch on the back of his 1999, Saab et al. 2007). Fruits, seeds and pine head. Although this woodpecker is one of the cone seeds are also choice food items, as well as most geographically variable species, the Hairy sunflower seeds and suet at feeders (Jackson et Woodpecker can also be identified by its bill al. 2002). Small, round nest entrance holes may which is larger and heavier than the Downy’s. be as high as 18 meters above ground and can Compared with the Downy, its call is louder. be easily missed in a dim forest (Eaton 1914, The Hairy has a characteristic, straight, graceful, Bull 1974). The adult’s familiar drumming is bounding flight, and uses its tail as a prop when steady, more rapid and with longer pauses excavating its nest hole. Hairy Woodpeckers are between bursts than the drumming of Downy easy to observe at feeders, although away from Woodpeckers (Jackson et al. 2002). The Hairy feeders, they may be somewhat shy (Jackson et Woodpecker’s drumming and vocalizations are al. 2002). Hairy Woodpeckers glean arthropods silenced during the nesting season. However, from the surface and just beneath the bark on young birds may be very noisy for several days trunks or dead branches, climbing easily with toward the end of the nesting period. Breeding short, strong legs (Conner et al. 1975). The decreases in areas dominated by agriculture as unique, two-toes in front and two-toes in back well as in urban and suburban centers, but foot arrangement of all woodpeckers enables increases in response to presence of large, them to cling firmly to tree bark while mature shade trees in cemeteries, parks and excavating a roost or nest hole or hunting food. shaded residential areas. Distribution In Michigan, Hairy Woodpecker populations are The Hairy Woodpecker prefers extensive, well distributed, with larger numbers in more mature forest habitats, where arthropods are its heavily forested areas. The MBBA I reported principal diet item, making it a valuable resident nesting activity in 71.1% of townships surveyed. © 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) Emma Pitcher & Anna Kornoelje The MBBA II reported nesting activity in 70.9% Conservation Needs of townships surveyed. Reports of nesting Although Hairy Woodpeckers are neither activity was highest in townships surveyed in threatened nor endangered, forest managers the NLP, followed by the SLP and then the UP should be aware that timber management may during the MBBA I. This can be contrasted with be detrimental to woodpeckers if all decayed findings from the MBBA II in which nesting trees are removed. Also, uncut filter strips along activity was highest in townships surveyed in streams and roads appear to be of value as the UP, followed by the NLP and then the SLP. woodpecker nesting habitat (Conner et al. Overall there is no change in distribution 1975). It may not be possible to stop or slow between the two atlases. down the incursion of summer homeowners from constructing roads and homes in wooded Breeding Biology areas surrounding Michigan’s small lakes, but Some Hairy Woodpeckers remain paired year- preservation of older, larger trees and snags is round, although the breeding season begins in recommended to provide suitable nesting areas March and extends through July. Tree species for woodpeckers (Dickson et al. 1983). chosen for nesting depends on availability of Woodpecker damage to structures is sometimes large trees or branches with heart rot (Conner considered a nuisance by homeowners. A recent and Adkisson 1976). The male may choose the study shows that strands of foil tape placed site. Excavation begins two to three weeks around houses and outbuildings can prevent before egg-laying. Deep cavities, varying from woodpecker damage (Harding 2007). 20.3- 40.6 cm, create a warm, protected environment for three to seven eggs (Eaton Jackson et al. (2002) mention serious 1914, McNair 1987). Both parents have deficiencies in existing data for most aspects of incubation patches, incubate eggs for 12-15 breeding biology and various aspects of nest days, and brood young for at least six of their success, including questions such as dispersal of 28-30 days in the nest (Lawrence 1967, Kilham young. Attention should be paid to possible 1968, Kilham 1979). Young are dependent on changes in number or nature of prey species as their parents for weeks after fledging and may result of climate change. remain with a specific parent for up to four weeks after fledging (Jackson et al. 2002). Literature Cited Abundance and Population Trends Bavrlic, K. 2007. Hairy Woodpecker. In (Click to view trends from the BBS) Cadman, M.D., D.A. Sutherland, G.G. Beck, The Hairy Woodpecker is estimated to number D. Lepage, and A.R. Couturier. (eds.). 2007. around 7,500,000 individuals in North America Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Ontario, with around 100,000 individuals in Michigan 2001-2005. Bird Studies Canada, (PIF 2007). Hairy Woodpecker populations Environment Canada, Ontario Field appear to be stable in Michigan. BBS trends Ornithologists, Ontario Ministry of Natural from 1983 to 2007 show no significant Resources and Ontario Nature. Toronto, population changes (Sauer et al. 2008). Ontario Population trends in the region show small Bull, J. 1974. Birds of New York State. increases such as a 2.1% increase in probability Doubleday/Natural History Press, Garden of observation in Ontario, which corresponds City, NY. with a small but significant increase in population trends seen in New York (Bavrlic 2007, McGowan 2008). © 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) Emma Pitcher & Anna Kornoelje Castrale, J.S., and C.E. Keller. 1998. Hairy Kilham, L. 1979. Three-week vs. 4-week Woodpecker. In Castrale, J.S., E.M. nestling periods in Picoides and other Hopkins, and C.E. Keller. 1998. Atlas of woodpeckers. Wilson Bulletin 9: 335-338. Breeding Birds of Indiana. Indiana Lawrence, L. 1967. A comparative life history Department of Natural Resources, Division study of four species of woodpeckers. of Fish and Wildlife, Nongame and Ornithological Monographs 5: 1-156. Endangered Wildlife Program. Indianapolis, McGowan, K. 2008. Hairy Woodpecker. In IN. McGowan, K. and K. Corwin. 2008. The Conner, R., R. Hooper, H. Crawford, and H. Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York Mosby. 1975. Woodpecker nesting habitat State. Cornell University Press. Ithaca, NY. in cut and uncut woodlands in Virginia. Partners in Flight (PIF). 2007. PIF Landbird Journal of Wildlife Management 39: 144- Population Estimates Database [web 150. application]. Version 2004. Rocky Conner, R. O. Miller, and C. Adkisson. 1976. Mountain Bird Observatory. Woodpecker dependence on trees infected <http://www.rmbo.org/pif_db/laped/default. by fungal heart rots. Wilson Bulletin 88: aspx>. 575-581. Saab, V., R. Russell, and J. Dudley. 2007. Nest Dickson, J., R. Conner, and J. Williamson, J. densities of cavity-nesting birds in relation 1983. Snag retention increases bird use of a to post fire salvage logging and time since clear-cut. Journal of Wildlife Management wildfire. Condor 109: 97-108. 47: 799-804. Sauer, J.R., J.E. Hines, and J. Fallon. 2008. The Eaton, E.H. 1914. Birds of New York, part 2. North American Breeding Bird Survey, State University of New York, Albany. Results and Analysis 1966 - 2007. Version Harding, E., P. Curtis, and S. Vehrencamp. 5.15.2008. USGS Patuxent Wildlife 2007. Assessment of Management Research Center, Laurel, MD. Techniques to Reduce Woodpecker Damage to Homes. Journal of Wildlife Management Suggested Citation 71: 2061-2066. Hobson, K., and J. Schieck, J. 1999. Changes in Pitcher, E. and A.R.Kornoelje. 2011. Hairy bird communities in boreal mixed wood Woodpecker (Picoides villosus). In Chartier, forest: harvest and wildfire effects over 30 A.T., J.J. Baldy, and J.M. Brenneman (eds.). years. Ecological Applications 9:849-863. 2010-2011. The Second Michigan Breeding Jackson, J.A., H.R. Ouellet, and B.J. Jackson. Bird Atlas. Kalamazoo Nature Center. 2002. Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides Kalamazoo, MI. Accessed online at: villosus). The Birds of North America <www.mibirdatlas.org/Portals/12/MBA2010 Online (A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Lab /HAWOaccount.pdf >. of Ornithology; Retrieved from the Birds of North America Online: <http://bna.birds.cornell.edu.bnaproxy.birds. cornell.edu/bna/species/702>, accessed 9/8/2010. Kilham, L. 1968. Reproductive behavior of Hairy Woodpeckers II. Nesting and habitat. Wilson Bulletin 80: 286-305. © 2011 Kalamazoo Nature Center .