Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, is a grand avian spectacle and the largest woodpecker in North America, barring the controversial status of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. With a striking black body and a vivid red crest, this bird is a sight to behold. The term "pileated" derives from the Latin pileatus, meaning "capped," a fitting description for this bird's distinctive headgear.

Identification Tips

Adult Pileated Woodpeckers measure between 40 to 49 cm in length, with a wingspan of 66 to 75 cm. They weigh from 225 to 400 grams, with males typically heavier than females. Their plumage is primarily black, save for a white line down the throat and flashes of white on the wings in flight. Males are distinguished by a red line from the bill to the throat, while this is black in females. Juveniles may have less pronounced crests.

Habitat

These woodpeckers favor mature forests with large hardwood trees, thriving in both deciduous and boreal forests. They are also found in wooded parks and can adapt to smaller woodlots if tall trees are present.

Distribution

The Pileated Woodpecker's range extends across Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific Coast. They are year-round residents within their range and are not migratory.

Behaviour

Pileated Woodpeckers are known for their powerful drilling as they search for their primary food source, carpenter ants. Their drumming can be heard echoing through the forest as they claim their territory. They are monogamous and defend their territory year-round, with both sexes sharing in the incubation of eggs and rearing of young.

Song & Calls

Their calls are a distinctive, loud series of whinnying notes. Their drumming, a deep and slow rolling pattern, is used for communication, particularly during courtship and territorial defense.

Breeding

These woodpeckers excavate large nests in dead trees, with multiple entrance holes. They lay three to five eggs, which are incubated for about 12 to 16 days. The young may take a month to fledge, and once they do, the nest is abandoned and not reused the following year.

Similar Species

The Pileated Woodpecker can be confused with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker and the Imperial Woodpecker, but differences in range and markings can help distinguish them.

Diet and Feeding

Their diet consists mainly of insects, particularly carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. They also consume fruits, nuts, and berries, including those of poison ivy. They forage on trees and occasionally on the ground, especially near fallen logs.

Conservation Status

The Pileated Woodpecker is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN. Its adaptability to various wooded habitats has allowed it to maintain a stable population size. Protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act, this species plays a crucial role in controlling insect populations and providing nesting sites for other animals through their excavation activities.