Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker, A big dashing bird with a flaming crest, the largest woodpecker in North America. I finally got a photo of this beautiful bird today. I have been trying to get one for years. For such a large bird, they move pretty fast through the trees.
Excavating deep into rotten wood to get at the nests of carpenter ants, the Pileated leaves characteristic rectangular holes in dead trees. This species became rare in eastern North America with clearing of forests in centuries past, but has gradually increased in numbers again since about the beginning of the 20th century.
66 Replies to “Pileated Woodpecker”
Hello, It’s very similar to Lineated Woodpecker ‘Guatapana’ we can watch in Colombia: https://roperoaventuras.com/2016/02/26/carpintero-real-o-listado-dryocopus-lineatus/
Yes, very similar and even more of red feathers on its head.thank you for this. I have not heard of this one.🙂
They’re the same genus Dryocopus.
Beautiful Sandra. I have never seen this type of woodpecker before, though I have seen pictures. If I’m not mistaken, isn’t the cartoon character “Woody the Woodpecker” modeled after the Pileated Woodpecker with its red crest?
I think it is Linda, that is what other people have said also. It is such a large bird also, and I know its call when I hear it. They don’t stick around very long, that why I keep missing the photo shot before. But this time, he sat on that tree for a couple minutes before taking off into the woods.
You’re lucky to have see it – in my meanderings around here, I’ve never seen one. I’ve never even seen a Hairy Woodpecker either, nor a Flicker. I am moving in the wrong circles!
WOW! Good job! It seems you like birds just as much as I do!
I sure do, they are amazing from the smallest ones to the biggest. 😊
Me too! I write blogs about birds too. you can check it out if you want
Beautiful Bird We have one who comes to our feeder. True story He or she is known for chasing the squirrels away but lets the finches and sparrows hang around. I like him
Laugh On
That would be so cool, I might have to get a bigger feeder for him to land on though.
Yea Mine is huge. I call Him/Her Pete
Good capture! Love it.
Thank you very much RJ.🙂
Wonderful captures of this beauty, Sandra!
Thank you very much Ellen, I sure hope to see him more that close.
So glad you captured these – great shots!
Thank you very much. 🙂
I was stunned the first time I saw one! They are so big!
As was I Susan, they are something to see. 🙂
Congratulations Sandra! You definitely captured his most distinctive features. Our pileated numbers have slowly grown over the last years. We now have at least 2 pairs living in the trees of our community. I love listening to them beckon to one another and then playing into their game of hide and seek as I try to spy their red head. On rare occasions one will come into our suet block. The first time it happened my youngest was still little and began to holler that a clown was at the feeder.
That is so cool that you see them also. They are very allusive. They don’t stick around very long. I don’t think they could hang on at my suet feeder. They are so big.
Allusive describes them perfectly which makes your pictures all the more amazing. Our suet is in a vertical holder so I hang it on our lilac bush where the nuthatches and red-bellies can hang off a branch to access it. I guess that may be why the pileated has in the past come into it, he feels hidden and stable.
I finally got my little bird feeder up and it took about two days before the birds discovered it. I love watching them fly in and out to retrieve food. Always reminds me how the Lord tell us to consider the birds.
Yes, you will really enjoy it. And the longer you have it up the more varieties of birds will come. 🙂
He’s a real beauty and it is an excellent capture, Sandra.
Thank you very much Greta, it was so exciting. Hopefully he will keep coming back here.🙂
Gorgeous bird! Rectangular holes. What a fascinating world our Creator made for us! Thank you for educating us, Sandra.
You are very welcome, creation is amazing for sure.😊
woody 😍
Yes, exactly.😊
😍
Beautiful bird. And quite impressive, there’s one around my place,and it’s quite big.
Thank you, Sandra. Have a great day.
You to Francine, I only get glimpses of him. He doesn’t hang around long.😊
He’s beautiful. I love his head banging, punkish mohawk.
I know, it is just perfect. 🙂
Congrats on these!! The rectangular drill marks are fascinating. So many interesting habits among among God’s creatures 🙂
Thank you Mary, yes everyone is unique in its species and beautiful on top of it. 🙂
Love the mop of red on the head..
Yes, that red really shows up when they are in the forest.
Congrats on your success with these shots!
Thank you, there are two of them that stop by now and then. But they leave quickly if I make any kind of movement. It was so much fun to finally get a photo. 🙂
It looks like a punk rocker 😉
Yes, quite the top hat they have. 🙂
Oh I know, it not easy to get a picture of them!
Yes, any little movement and they are gone. 🙂
I love these guys! They are so funny!!! Thank You and Cheers!!! 💕
Me to, their eyes and that bright crown they have.
I have seen these in the woods in Indiana and they are startling to behold! Lovely shot!
Thank you Patrick, yes they are. Their bright red to orange crown is so noticeable even through the trees. 🙂
Good for you! I have also been chasing this bird for a few years, but only once a year ago, or so, I got the silhouette of one at he end of a big grove of trees. “Where’s Waldo” was probably a good title for that photo! Have a great Wednesday!
They are amazing birds Marland, and so quick. They don’t sit still for to long. I saw two of them out my window a few days ago. I grabbed the camera and tried to quietly open the door and sneak outside and then they took off. They don’t just go to the next tree, they flew far off.
👏
Such a beauty!
They really are, and so big. 🙂
How lucky to have a chance like this. The pictures are great Sandra.
Thank you very much. I hope to see him more. I got a few more shots as he was there for a couple minutes.🙂
What a gorgeous bird
Most definitely the inspiration behind Woody Woodpecker! 🙂
Yes, that is what my husband said. I had forgotten about that cartoon until he mentioned it also.🙂
You have forgotten about Woody Woodpecker?!!! Nooooo! 🙂 Kidding
Lol, I know, I do remember watching that show as a child. And bugs bunny, loved that rabbit.
It was definitely worth the wait…
It sure was, I only see him now and then around here and he takes off the minute I move. But this time I heard him before I saw him so I had time to get my camera.🙂
Guess whoooo? It’s Woody Woodpecker!
Yes, now we know where their idea came from for that cartoon.🙂