Hairy Woodpecker (also known as Eastern Hairy Woodpecker)

The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized woodpecker with a strong, chisel-like bill, clean white back stripe, and checkered black-and-white wings. Its tail feathers are notably stiff and pointed to act as a prop while foraging on tree trunks for insect larvae.

Dark brownish-black background with prominent, evenly spaced stark white horizontal or diagonal bar markings along both vanes.

Pennaceous structure along the main vane with tightly interlocked barbicels, becoming slightly plumulaceous at the extreme base near the calamus.

Stiff, rigid, and matte in appearance, specially adapted for abrasion resistance against rough tree bark.

Stiffly pointed shaft, rigid barbs, and distinctive bold black-and-white barring pattern typical of woodpecker rectrices.

Mature deciduous and coniferous forests, woodlots, forest edges, parks, and recently burned areas with an abundance of standing dead trees.

Widespread across North America, ranging from Alaska and Canada down through the United States to parts of Central America and the Caribbean. Permanent resident throughout its range.

Acts as a keystone species by excavating tree cavities used by many secondary cavity-nesting birds and mammals, and helps control forest insect pest populations.

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens), which is very similar in plumage pattern but significantly smaller with a much shorter bill relative to head size.

Hairy woodpeckers have specialized skull anatomy and shock-absorbing spongy bone tissue that protects their brain from repeated high-impact drumming forces exceeding 1,000 Gs.

Good condition with minor wear at the tip, showing intact barbs and a clean rachis with no major fraying or parasitic damage.