hairy woodpecker

noun

: a common North American woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) closely resembling the downy woodpecker but larger with a longer bill

Examples of hairy woodpecker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Davie Park filled in some gaps in our list with such goodies as a brown creeper, pine warbler and hairy woodpecker. Taylor Piephoff, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The hairy woodpecker and the downy woodpecker are quite similar and can be difficult for novice birders to distinguish. John Schandelmeier, Anchorage Daily News, 24 Oct. 2021 One challenge was to discern the hairy woodpecker from its doppelganger, the downy woodpecker. Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 17 July 2019 Red-bellied, downy and hairy woodpeckers love peanuts, a high-protein, high-energy food, as do other songbirds. Evan MacDonald, cleveland.com, 25 Dec. 2017 The forest also is home to bear, coyote, deer and birds from hairy woodpeckers to red-breasted sapsuckers. Lynda V. Mapes, The Seattle Times, 25 Dec. 2017

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1728, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hairy woodpecker was circa 1728

Dictionary Entries Near hairy woodpecker

Cite this Entry

“Hairy woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hairy%20woodpecker. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hairy woodpecker

noun
: a common North American woodpecker closely resembling but larger than the downy woodpecker

More from Merriam-Webster on hairy woodpecker

Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!