Pileated Woodpecker

[Donkees]

John Armstrong

[rampartc]

1. i can't seem to paste it,

but audubon's pileated woodpeckers is , well, audubon

i learned this morning :

the ivory billed w'pecker is not yet listed as "extinct.."

and the piliated w'pecker is adapting and thriving. fromwi kipedia

The pileated woodpecker occupies an extensive range and is quite adaptable. Its ability to survive in many wooded habitat types has allowed the species to survive human habitation of North America much better than the more specialized ivory-billed woodpecker.[citation needed] Pileated woodpeckers have a large population size, and despite being nonmigratory, are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. While the large birds control many insect populations, especially tree beetles, that may otherwise experience outbreaks; some people may consider them harmful if found on their property due to the considerable damage that pileated woodpeckers can do to trees and homes.[citation needed]

[Donkees]

2. Besides the elusive Ivory-billed, there are other pale-billed woodpeckers such as in Belize ...

Photo: Blueridger

Lineated Woodpecker - Large ‘woody woodpecker’ of tropical forest in lowlands and foothills. Also ranges into semi-open areas with tall trees, mangroves, and other lightly wooded habitats.


Pale Billed Woodpecker - The pale-billed woodpecker is 15 inches long and weighs 9 ounces. It resembles the lineated woodpecker, but is larger and more robust. The adult is mainly black above with a pale bill, bushy crest, and white lines down the shoulders which almost meet in a V on its back.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. I have seen exactly two in my life, once when I was a little kid and my visiting grandmother called us outside to see it

I have never forgotten and spotted a second one last year hanging around the stump of one of my mother's favorite trees which was recently chopped down by mistake. I only saw him that one time, though I always look.

[Donkees]

4. I see them scavenging and 'working' on old trees :)

Pileated Woodpecker, at Maplewood Flats
hunting and in the process destroying a rotten tree

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Yup, that's what the one I saw recently was doing at the stump of my mother's tree

And the one that I saw as a kid was close by on the lot next door which we kids referred to as "the pit." It was a lot with no house at the time where the basement had already been dug. They were building new houses in the neighborhood at that time and when they chopped down trees to make room to build the house, they ended up in "the pit." We kids liked to play there.

[Donkees]

6. This time of year I hear their calls, and have even had one feasting on the peanut feeder

Pileated Woodpeckers are quite vocal, typically making a high, clear, series of piping calls that lasts several seconds. The Pileated is known for digging rectangular holes in trees to find insects.

Video captured by MDC videographer Kevin Muenks

[Rhiannon12866]

7. What do they like besides insects, peanuts? And the two I saw must have found insects in the recently downed trees

Of course it's winter here now (blizzard last Friday), though we haven't had the usual amount of snow. I'll have to start looking for him again in the Spring. Thanks!

[Donkees]

8. Suet, either the commercial blocks or fresh suet hunks from the meat counter

They need to prop their tails, so the feeder cage has to be tied to a thicker branch, instead of free hanging.

[Rhiannon12866]

9. Thanks so much! There are other trees close by and my mother had a bird feeder that my brother hasn't been tending

My mother loved the birds, if a squirrel scared them away from the bird feeder, she'd run out in her bathrobe and chase them away.

[dem4decades]

10. We have some near the house, but every time we see them it's still a treat.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. ha ha ha ha ho thats the woody wood pecker song.