Pileated Woodpecker
Image: <div class="fn value"> <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Cephas" title="User:Cephas">Cephas</a></div> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NamePileated Woodpecker
Common NamePileated Woodpecker
Scientific NameDryocopus pileatus
FamilyPicidae
Wingspan (cm)66
Length (cm)45
Weight (g)300
Plumage DetailsMostly black plumage with a prominent bright red crest. Males have a red malar stripe (mustache), while females have a black malar stripe. Both sexes feature white stripes on the face and neck, and white underwings visible during flight. The bill is dark and chisel-shaped.
Vocalization / CallA loud, far-carrying, irregular series of 'cuk-cuk-cuk-cuk' notes, often accelerating and varying in pitch. They also produce a powerful, resonant drumming sound.
Primary Dietinsectivore
Primary Habitatsforest, woodland, suburban
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeFound across much of Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific Northwest, typically in mature forests and woodlands.
Identifying FeaturesLarge size, Prominent red crest, Black body with white facial stripes, Red malar stripe (male only), Long, chisel-like bill, Distinctive rectangular foraging holes
Description
The Pileated Woodpecker is a large, striking woodpecker known for its prominent red crest and powerful excavations into dead wood. They create distinctive rectangular holes while foraging for carpenter ants and other insects.
