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Lewis’s Woodpecker For Skywatch Friday

Lewis’s Woodpecker photos by Larry Jordan

The Lewis’s Woodpecker is on the National Audubon Society’s watchlist mostly due to habitat loss.  They breed in open forests of Ponderosa Pine or Cottonwood which are declining across their range.  They are, however, year round residents of northern California and may be spotted flying from the tops of oak trees out to hawk insects and then back to the oak tree in a pattern similar to that of the Black Phoebe.

They are graceful in flight and a lot of fun to watch as they do their acrobatic flycatching runs.

If you enjoy great photos of the various skies all ove the world, be sure to go check out Skywatch Friday!

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  • Natural Moments March 26, 2009, 11:04 am

    I once saw a huge flock of them along a river in stands of dying cottonwoods in northcentral Washington State. I had a do a double take on them because they were so colourful and very talkative with one another. The odd thing was that there were so many of them in one place. Could have been the abundance of dead trees there.

  • Carver March 26, 2009, 11:07 am

    Great shots here of the woodpecker and also loved the one you used for the skywatch homepage.

    Carvers last blog post..Sky Watch Friday and Purple Day for Epilepsy Awareness

  • SandyCarlson March 26, 2009, 11:16 am

    My gut churns whenever I read animals are struggling to survive because of habitat loss.

    These are beautiful shots.

  • Rob Ripma March 26, 2009, 11:20 am

    Awesome shots of a beautiful bird!

  • Kilauea Poetry March 26, 2009, 11:57 am

    One word- awesome!
    That top one is so neat with the ghosted limbs-

  • Janie of Utah March 26, 2009, 12:24 pm

    Beautiful bird pho tos, and an impeccable sky.
    I love the one of the bird in flight.

  • East Gwillimbury WOW! March 26, 2009, 12:29 pm

    Beautiful birds, especially in flight. So sorry their habitat is threatened. Grrr!

    East Gwillimbury WOW!s last blog post..Gated Community/ Sky Watch

  • Andy Carbaugh March 26, 2009, 3:12 pm

    Great shots. especially of the one in flight. They are hard to capture.

  • babooshka March 26, 2009, 3:57 pm

    It is spectacular

    babooshkas last blog post..BLUE SKIES OR STORMY WEATHER? – SKYWATCH

  • tootie March 26, 2009, 5:45 pm

    A beautiful bird, that I had never seen before.

    tooties last blog post..Kitten Paw Wednesday

  • Larry March 26, 2009, 9:45 pm

    @Bernie they do seem to gather in flocks in the spring as they feed

    @Carver thank you very much and thanks for making us aware of Epilepsy Awareness Day

    @Sandy I know exactly how you feel. Thank you for stopping by with a comment

    @Rob thanks! I will make it back to your site for the bird quiz

    @Regina thank you very much

    @Janie thank you. I love your Utah photos!

    @EG Tour Guide if we all work hard to expand the awareness of the planet’s problems, I believe we are on our way to a better world

    @Andy thank you, I worked hard to get a few decent in flight shots of these guys

    @Babooshka thanks and Happy Blogoversary to you!

    @Tootie the Lewis’s Woodpeckers are only found in the west and they are gorgeous in person. Thanks for stopping by!

  • Kallen March 27, 2009, 4:09 am

    Such a pretty bird and such beautiful, blue skies!

    Kallens last blog post..I am Lost!!

  • Blossom March 27, 2009, 4:20 am

    I love birds. You have a nice page here.

    Blossoms last blog post..Sky Watch # 37

  • Tink *~*~* March 27, 2009, 4:28 am

    Hi Larry and Happy Skywatch! Love the melting of gray to red on this bird, and loved your sky photo too.

    TGIF!
    Tink *~*~*
    Fort Myers Beach Moon

    Tink *~*~*s last blog post..Fort Myers Beach Moon

  • istanbuldailyphoto March 27, 2009, 7:49 am

    Birds and freedom. Observers of the sky, the old birds …

  • Arija March 27, 2009, 8:57 am

    Great shot to capture it in flight with the red belly.

    Arijas last blog post..SkyWatch ~ 27 The Sun Also Rises

  • MaineBirder March 27, 2009, 8:58 am

    Great shots Larry, love the BIF!