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See Many Additional Woodpecker Photos in the
Gallery
We have read that the pileated (means crested) woodpecker is fairly common in our
area, but we had only heard its familiar call and drumming. On
April 2nd and 5th we were very fortunate to watch our
little-seen visitor.. He traveled and pecked his way from our lightening
split maple tree to the electrical pole in the front yard and then
rested on several more poles by the road.
The largest and maybe not the most attractive woodpecker, he awakens
the baby boomers' memories of that tricky Woody Woodpecker. Created in
1941 the famous laugh belonged to Gracie Lantz, the wife of Woody's
creator Walter Lantz. I can still hear the noisy sound after all
these years.
We still hear the real pileated woodpecker now and then, but he is
very clever at avoiding our camera.
On October 24th we captured a random tree inspection by a pileated
woodpecker. He seemed to be scouting out potential stay-over openings in
the trees on our back border. He's most welcome to call this area
home.
November 28, 2008 -
While scanning the main feeder area for potential bird pictures, I noticed a
flash of red in the distance.
 After
adjusting my lens, I was thrilled to see a pileated woodpecker in a pine
tree by our log garden. We have occasionally seen one of these woodpeckers, but get very little
chance to take clear, focused photos. We are proud to be part of
their large territory. Since they need a huge area of mature
deciduous and conifer trees to survive, we only see them when they
visit our trees (assuming, of course, we are actually watching).
A picture of a pileated woodpecker was published in our local paper
last week. He was pecking on a dead maple tree located
on Main Street in our nearby village. They stated that a downy
woodpecker was next to
dine when the large guy left.
Our pileated woodpecker (maybe aka the Main Street Feeder) turned
out to be our first female. She has a black mustache and crown (the
males have red ones). We took a photo of her with the sun shining
through her red crest.
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Size:
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Length: 16.5-19 in
Weight: 10 oz
Wingspan: 29 in
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ID:
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Male: Large, predominantly black; bright red crest (named for
Latin pileatus meaning wearing a cap; red crest extends to the
beak; mustache also red; yellow eyes; white stripe from base of
bill, across face to back of neck, then extends from neck to
shoulder and down side to become leading edge of wings; large,
pointed, dark gray beak (wears down with age); uses tail as
brace when clinging to tree; black feet zygodactylous (feet with
two toes forward and two facing back)
Female: Similar to male, except black forehead and mustache
Juvenile: Similar to adults, but overall duller and
browner
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Habitat:
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Large areas of mature, deciduous, mixed or conifer forest
lands; woodlots in suburban or agricultural areas
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Diet:
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Insects (carpenter ants, beetles, tree boring types); nuts
and various fruits mainly in fall and winter; may come to
feeders for suet
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Family Behavior:
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Mating Habits: Monogamous; solitary nester; 1 brood per year
Local Breeding Period: Mid-May
Nests: Excavated cavity in dead or dying tree trunk; built by
both male and female; leaves wood chips in bottom of hole;
opening about 3.5 inches in diameter and depth of cavity about
10-24 inches
Eggs: 3-5 plain white eggs; 15-18 days by female during the day
and male at night
Nestlings: Born altricial (helpless, naked, eyes closed) and
stay in nest 26-28 days; fed by both parents (regurgitated
insects)
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Social Activities:
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A pair requires more than 100-200 acres of mature forest
(thus often heard but not seen); males defend territory with
loud call and drumming; creates oval or rectangular cavities;
chisels feeding holes 3-6 inches looking for grubs and ants;
other birds and mammals are dependent on abandoned holes for
shelter and nesting
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Range:
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Year-round in most of southern Canada, northwest coast to
central California, and east US to mid US
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Vocalization:
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Loud, rapid kuk kuk kukkeekeekeekeekeekeekeekeekee kuk; call
is single kuk; drum loud and resonant, well-spaced thuds that
trail off at the end
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Lifespan: |
Up to 9 years |
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