Friday, September 18, 2009

Pileated Woodpecker

The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker found in most of North America, with a wingspan of around 25 to 30 inches long. These birds are found mostly in the eastern United States, southern Canada and the Pacific Northwest.
Like many other types of woodpeckers pileated woodpeckers are not really migrant. They stay in their nesting territory, and defend it, year round. They can survive in the colder climate because their food source are insects that are found with in trees. They use their powerful beaks to bore large, often rectangular, holes deep into trees to find their prey. They are so large and strong that they will sometimes break small trees. They nest in the cavity of large trees where they will lay a clutch of 1 to 6 eggs. I photographed this pileated last August at Hok-Si-La.

19 comments:

Vicki ~ FL said...

Wonderful shot of a beautiful bird.

Helen said...

They are beautiful. We used to see them in the woods when we went fishing. You could see them from the boat. Great shots! Helen

sweetbay said...

Great shots! We have Pileated Woodpeckers on our farm and they always amaze me.

eileeninmd said...

Wonderful photos of the Pileated Woodie. They are one of my favorite woodpeckers.

Teena in Toronto said...

I love the red on his head!

I played too :)

Martha said...

I would love to see that woodpecker. I heard a woodpecker on morning in our small patch of woods, but I was never able to locate it!
Beautiful photos!

My CC

Jane said...

Wow, your so lucky to get that close to him to take a shot. I truely beautiful image I like the monochrome tones of the image too. Thank you for sharing with us:)

Snap said...

Stunning photos as usual! Thanks!

said...

Gosh he is gorgeous and impressive-looking!

Dimple said...

We occasionally see one of these woodpeckers. But now that I know their bore holes are rectangular, I know I have seen evidence of them often. Thanks for an interesting post.

magiceye said...

beautiful and impressive!

Janet Roper said...

I have just recently discovered your blog and I am enjoying it immensely. Your photography is stunning.

My site, Talk2theAnimals.com is hosting its 1st Annual Photo Contest. I hope you will participate!

Harmony,
Janet

Appalachian Lady said...

What a great shot of the pileated woodpecker. I hear them all summer but mostly see them in the winter. I'm glad I found your blog.

Adrienne Zwart said...

Theoretically, we have these in NE Ohio, but I've yet to see one. Great captures!

Splendid Little Stars said...

Oh, fabulous photos!
I am enjoying your blog so much, I'm now off to share it with a bird-loving friend!

Anonymous said...

Amazing to see! My husband and I saw one this morning in our yard in Ramsey, MN!!

Anonymous said...

I first saw one of these amazing birds 6 years ago, in ND. About a year later I put it's voice with it, and now, when I hear one "laugh", I know what I'm looking for. I have been TRYING to get great pictures, like yours, but, it's not easy. I am so intrigued by them! Thanks for photo and info.

Katherine said...

We live in central SE okla and I've seen a pair of these woodpeckers for the last 5 years. They are beautiful. I've taken pictures but not with a professional type camera. I don't know what they sound like but am curios now one of the comments said something about a laugh.
How rare are these birds and should I report the location?
Enjoyed your photos!!
Katherine House, Seminole, Okla.

Lori said...

Don't know if you still monitor this post, but I'm looking at a pileated woodpecker right now, on a tree in my front yard. It's beautiful, and is accompanied by two other, smaller types of woodpeckers. It's about 30 degrees and snowing here in Mt. Juliet, TN.