Lewis's Woodpecker:
Lewis's Woodpecker was named after Captain Meriwether Lewis of the Lewis & Clark expedition, who first described the bird on July 20, 1805, while near today's _____. He described the bird more in-depth on May 27, 1806. The Lewis and Clark expedition called the bird the "Black woodpecker".
"... I saw a black woodpecker today about the size of the lark woodpecker as black as a crow. I indevoured to get a shoot at it but could not. it is a distinct species of woodpecker; it has a long tail and flys a good deel like the jay bird. ..."
[Captain Meriwether Lewis, July 20, 1805]
"...
The Black woodpecker which I have frequently mentioned and which is found in most parts of the roky Mountains as well as the Western and S. W. mountains. I had never an opportunity of examining untill a few days since when we killed and preserved several of them.
this bird is about the size of the lark woodpecker of the turtle dove, tho' it's wings are longer than either of those birds. the beak is black, one inch long, reather wide at the base, somewhat curved, and sharply pointed; the chaps are of equal length.
arround the base of the beak including the eye and a small part of the throat is of a fine crimson red.
the neck and as low as the croop in front is of an iron grey.
the belly and breast is a curious mixture of white and blood reed which has much the appearance of having been artifically painted or stained of that colour.
the red reather predominates.
the top of the head back, sides, upper surface of the wings and tail are black, with a gossey tint of green in a certain exposure to the light.
the under side of the wings and tail are of a sooty black.
it has ten feathers in the tail, sharply pointed, and those in the center reather longest, being 2½ inches in length.
the tongue is barbed, pointed, and of an elastic cartelaginous substance.
the eye is moderately large, puple black and iris of a dark yellowish brown.
this bird in it's action when flying resembles the small redheaded woodpecke common to the Atlantic states; it's note also somewhat resembles that bird.
. the pointed tail seems to assist it in seting with more eas or retaining it its resting position against the perpendicular side of a tree.
the legs and feet are black and covered with wide imbricated scales.
it has four toes on each foot of which two are in rear and two in front; the nails are much curved long and remarkably keen or sharply pointed.
it feeds on bugs worms and a variety of insects ..."
[Captain Meriwether Lewis, May 27, 1806]
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier, Oregon.
Image taken April 25, 2010.
Canon Rebel T1i, 300mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier Oregon.
Nice sunny spring day.
Image taken May 4, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier Oregon.
Nice sunny spring day.
Image taken May 4, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier Oregon.
Nice sunny spring day.
Image taken May 4, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Click image to enlarge
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Lewis's Woodpecker, Mosier Oregon.
Nice sunny spring day.
Image taken May 4, 2011.
Canon EOS 7d, 400mm.
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Ridgefield NWR, Washington ...
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