Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - adult female

I photographed this Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) near the edge of a forest in a mountainous area of Larimer County, Colorado.  This individual is an adult female.  The markings of the male of the species are very similar, but the male has a red patch at the back of its head.

The diet of the Hairy Woodpecker consists mainly of insects, although they also will eat seeds and fruits. They are known to eat the larvae of the bark beetles that infest Ponderosa Pines in Colorado, so these birds are a welcome sight.

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - adult female