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Hairy Woodpecker
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Picoides
Species: villosus
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Gr. pikos woodpecker
La. picus woodpecker
Gr. Circe, mythological daughter
of Helios, changed Picus, son
of Saturn, into a woodpecker
La. forma form, shape, kind
La. -oides resembling
La. villosus hairy, shaggy, rough
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Nine to ten inches long. Black and white bands extending back from the beak
across the top and sides of the head. |
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Red patch on the back of the male's head.
Black wings with white spots in rows. White throat and underside. Straight black chisel
beak. Often mistaken for a Downy Woodpecker, however the Hairy Woodpecker is larger and
has a larger beak. Inhabits forests, groves and parks throughout most
of North America wherever there are trees.
The male may begin chiseling several holes in the fall before
selecting the right one. Females and males occupy separate holes until the
mating season.
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Lays four or five, more or less, white eggs which hatch after about two weeks
incubation and young leave the nest in about another four weeks.
Its drumming is heard in forests. Braces its pecking and
agile movements with strong tail feathers.
Eats insects it mostly finds in bark crevices of trees. Cornell Ornithology
claims Hairy Woodpeckers can feel a moving insects' vibration and can also hear insects
munch on wood.
In winter they venture out of deep forests and often to back yard
bird feeders.
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Hairy Woodpecker Nestbox Plans |
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The Hairy Woodpecker nest box
has a 6" by 6" floor, 14" inside ceiling, 1 5/8" diameter entrance hole
located 11" above the floor and ventilation openings. Hinged roof is
secured with shutter hooks. Assembled with corrosion resistant screws
fit to pre-drilled pilot holes for easy assembly.
Mount 12 feet or higher on a tree in a forest, forest edge, or grove.
John L. Ridgway
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