Species fact sheet by Global Register of Migratory Species - www.groms.de

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Melanerpes lewis (GR Gray, 1849) Family: woodpeckers Order: Piciformes print version
Lewis's woodpecker Pic de Lewis Carpintero de Lewis Blutgesichtsspecht
Migration: Groms migrant

Verbreitungskarte von Melanerpes lewis Mostly migratory. Because of marked seasonal changes in diet, has to move variable distances to non-breeding grounds that provide acorns or nuts; populations of Idaho, Wyoming and Montana migrate longer distances, c.50% of population in SE Colorado may be resident throughout year. Migrants generally winter within S part of breeding range (from SW Oregon, C Utah and C Colorado), also locally S to NW Baja California, W & C Arizona and S New Mexico, more rarely to N Mexico (S to Sonora and Chihuahua); non-breeding distribution heavily dependent on weather conditions and distribution of acorn crops. Migration sometimes spectacular, with more than 2000 birds in small groups and loose flocks passing a single point in 1 hour; before arrival at wintering grounds, nomadic flocks may exploit habitats in mountains or visit orchards. Arrives on winter grounds late Sept and first half Oct, staying until late Apr; sometimes in large flocks in winter. Spring return less nomadic than autumn migration, and therefore takes less time.   (del Hoyo J, Elliott A, Sargatal J (eds), 2002)


Regions:
Recommended link: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/accounts/melanerpes/m._lewis$narrative.html
Feedback: mail to Klaus Riede
(Last update: 26.04.04 by E.Heuel)