Pileated Woodpecker Up Close

by Chad Meyer

Title

Pileated Woodpecker Up Close

Artist

Chad Meyer

Medium

Photograph - Digital Photography

Description

A close up shot of a male pileated woodpecker (males have the red stripe seen here in the picture) checking out the hole in the tree. He took a brief look in the hole and then climbed up and pecked the tree a few more times in different places before moving on to another tree.


Per all about birds - The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.

Look for Pileated Woodpeckers in stands of mature forest with plenty of dead trees and downed logs—deep excavations into rotten wood are telltale signs of this species. Also listen for this bird's deep, loud drumming and shrill, whinnying calls. Pileated Woodpeckers occur at all heights in the forest, and are often seen foraging on logs and near the bases of trees.

I also refer to these birds as Woody Woodpeckers

Uploaded

September 17th, 2023

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