The
Pileated Woodpecker is one of the most stunning
birds I have ever seen. As a sophomore at Hamilton
College, in upstate New York, I often observed a
pair of Pileated Woodpeckers that frequented the
tangled forest that lined the road leading to the
house I lived in. The loud drumming of the giant
woodpeckers would be audible from within the building's
stone walls, and would invariably result in me racing
for my binoculars, stumbling outdoors, and watching
motionless for minutes as the red crested woodpeckers
scaled tree after tree, before taking flight across
the valley.
Description:
The Pileated Woodpecker measures about 18 inches
in length. It has a flaming red crest, white face
with black eye stripe, and black body. White extends
from the face to the neck. Males have a red mustache.
Females look similar, but have less red on the crest.
In flight, Pileated Woodpeckers show white wing
patches.
Status/Habitat:
The Pileated Woodpecker, America's largest woodpecker,
is fairly common in dense mixed or deciduous forests,
wet woodlands, parks with mature trees, and even
suburban neighborhoods. Unlike its close relative,
the possibly extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker, the
Pileated Woodpecker has adapted well to altered
habitats and human encroachment.
Range/Diet:
Pileated Woodpeckers range throughout the east and
midwest. Some Pileated Woodpeckers also occur in
parts of the Pacific Northwest and California. Pileated
Woodpeckers are non-migratory, and are as likely
to be seen in winter as spring or summer. Pileated
Woodpeckers are generally shy birds, but may come
to suet feeders in appropriate settings. Pileated
Woodpeckers use their long, sticky tongues to burrow
under tree bark for insects and insect larvae. Like
the Northern Flicker, the Pileated Woodpecker may
forage on the ground for ants.
