The Hairy Woodpecker is a medium-sized bird found across North America, known for its distinctive black and white plumage. Adults typically measure about 7 to 10 inches in length and have a sturdy bill designed for drilling into trees. They primarily inhabit forests, parks, and suburban areas, where they forage for insects, especially wood-boring beetles, beneath the bark of trees. These woodpeckers are often confused with the similar-looking Downy Woodpecker, but the Hairy Woodpecker is larger and has a longer bill. Males can be identified by a small red patch on the back of their heads. Their drumming sounds are a key part of their communication and territory establishment.