Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus

Size: 9"

Male: (Shown) Black and white woodpecker with a white belly and black wings with rows of white spots. White stripe down back. Long black bill. Red mark on back of head.

Female: Same as male, but lacks red mark on head.

Juvenile: Grayer version of female.

Nest: Male and female excavate a cavity. One brood per year.

Eggs: 3-6; white without markings

Incubation: 11-15 days; female and male incubate, the female during the day and the male at night

Fledging: 28-30 days; male and female feed young

Migration: The Hairy Woodpecker can be found in St. Charles County year round.

Food: Insects, nuts, seeds, and will come to seed and suet feeders

Fact: When eating shelled nuts, the Hairy Woodpecker will find a nook in the surrounding area, such as a knothole on a deck railing or between wooden slats and place the peanut inside to keep it from rolling away.

Compare: Similar to the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy Woodpecker is larger and has a longer tail that lacks the black spots of the Downy.