West · Central Flyway

Are There Lewis's Woodpeckers in Colorado?

Yes, but uncommon — Lewis's Woodpeckers occur in Colorado year-round in small numbers. Melanerpes lewis · Picidae

UncommonAbundance
Year-round residentSeasonal status
10Active months
12,226Observations

Is the Lewis's Woodpecker Found in Colorado?

Lewis's Woodpeckers do occur in Colorado, but they are considered uncommon. Encountering one requires patience and the right habitat.

Where to see them instead: the nearest states where Lewis's Woodpeckers occur regularly are New Mexico (about 310 miles away), Utah (about 340 miles away) and South Dakota (about 450 miles away).

Often mistaken for Lewis's Woodpeckers in Colorado: Northern Flicker, Downy Woodpecker and Hairy Woodpecker — these occur regularly in Colorado, so compare them carefully before concluding you saw a Lewis's Woodpecker.

Lewis's Woodpecker is a North American backyard bird.

In Colorado, this species is classified as uncommon. It is a year-round resident, present in all 12 months.

Monthly Activity — Lewis's Woodpecker in Colorado

Relative frequency of observations by month. Higher bars indicate peak periods for this species.

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
RegularSeasonalRare

Identification

FamilyPicidae
View full Lewis's Woodpecker profile →

Best Time to See Lewis's Woodpecker in Colorado

January
Peak
February
Peak
March
Active
April
Peak
May
Peak
June
Peak
July
Peak
August
Peak
September
Peak
October
Peak
November
Active
December
Peak

Other birds in Colorado

Birds you might also encounter in Colorado.

Lewis's Woodpecker in other states

Lewis's Woodpecker in Colorado: Quick Facts

The Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is an uncommon bird in Colorado. It is classified as a year-round resident in the state, falling within the West region and the Central Flyway migration corridor.

For birders in Denver and throughout Colorado, knowing the seasonal patterns of Lewis's Woodpecker can help plan birding trips and backyard feeding strategies.

Use the monthly activity chart above to plan your birding outings, and explore other bird species found in Colorado using the related birds section.