BirdNote Daily Lewis's Woodpeckers and Pine Forests
Dec 27, 2025
Discover the colorful Lewis's Woodpecker and its fascinating habitat across the West. This bird's nesting has been challenged by a century of logging and fire control, but there's still hope. It can adapt by nesting in cottonwoods, while protected old-growth ponderosas are thriving. Learn how its seasonal migration is linked to its diet of moths and the wider tropical environment. Explore the resilience of nature in the face of change!
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Dependence On Old-Growth Pines
- The Lewis's woodpecker favors mature ponderosa pine forests for breeding across the western U.S..
- A century of logging and fire suppression has reduced these old-growth nesting sites, threatening cavity-dependent species.
Slow Tree Growth Limits Nesting
- Large ponderosa pines take many years to develop cavities suitable for woodpecker nests.
- Scarcity of nest holes has caused declines in Lewis's woodpecker and other cavity users like the flammulated owl.
Migratory Links To Tropical Habitats
- The flammulated owl shares the woodpecker's reliance on northern moth prey and migratory patterns.
- Its fate connects to both western forests and tropical wintering habitats in Mexico and Central America.