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Pileated Woodpecker - (Dryocopus
pileatus)
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| 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. |
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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.
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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).
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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
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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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