Happy New Year fellow travelers and wildlife lovers. I spent December in Mexico and I’m currently in Idaho. I hadn’t been in the United States in a year, so I thought I would come out west for awhile.
Since I first arrived in Boise then McCall, the temperatures have been frigid, with a plethora of snow. While driving in McCall, I saw this Pileated Woodpecker hanging out on a tree. Observing a Pileated Woodpecker is a unique experience due to its impressive size and vibrant colors.
I hope you guys like this weeks’ blog, learning about the Pileated Woodpecker. The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus Pileatus) is a striking bird known for its vibrant red crest and large size. It’s one of the largest woodpeckers in North America. These birds are mainly found in mature forests across the eastern United States, parts of the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest.
Pileated Woodpeckers are large, measuring about 16 to 19 inches in length. They have a mostly black body with bold white stripes on the face and neck. The most striking feature is the vibrant red crest on the head.
Habitat
Pileated Woodpeckers are adaptable but are most commonly found in large, mature forests. They show a preference for areas with old-growth trees, as these trees provide suitable nesting sites and abundant food resources. Look for them in both coniferous and deciduous forests.
Behavior
These woodpeckers are skilled at excavating wood to find insects, particularly carpenter ants. Their drumming sounds are loud and can carry over long distances, used for communication and establishing territory. The drumming sounds are not only a means of communication but also serve to establish territory and attract mates.
Their strong bills are equipped with chisel-like tips and a barbed tongue, allowing them to extract insects from wood easily. Pileated Woodpeckers may also feed on fruits, nuts, and berries, showcasing their varied diet.
Nesting
Pileated Woodpeckers create large, rectangular cavities in trees for nesting. These cavities can be quite substantial. Both male and female contribute to the excavation process.
Range
They are distributed across North America, with a range covering the eastern United States, parts of the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest.
Pileated Woodpeckers are not considered endangered and have adapted well to various forest habitats. They play a crucial role in ecosystems by controlling insect populations and creating nesting sites that benefit other cavity-nesting birds.