Picid in Focus: Lewis's Woodpecker

At about 27cm in length, Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis is the largest member of the genus. It is a heavy-looking, dark but handsome, long-tailed, long-winged picid. Most of head, upper-parts and wings are dark green, it has a red face, a grey nape, collar and chest, and a pinkish breast and belly. In flight it looks particularly dark. The sexes are almost identical, not exhibiting sexual dimorphism in colour. Juveniles lacks the red face and grey collar and are less pink below. Photo by Steve Shunk, Oregon, USA.