Pileated Woodpecker

[BoatHouse]

We were making breakfast last Sunday in Wolfeboro and a Pileated Woodpecker came right up to the bay window then stayed on a tree 20 feet from the house.
Now we hear woodpeckers in the woods every day, but have not seen this one again.
Come to find out, this is the second largest woodpecker in North America. Very cool.

[DRH]

Pileated woodpeckers are quite impressive to see, but they can do great damage to trees that have insects in them. A pileated can easily "chop" a 2" X 6" wide by 3" deep hole in a tree in an attempt to get to the insects. Trees with multiple pileated woodpecker holes in them seldom survive, but of course those trees are most likely infested with insects anyway so they are in poor health to begin with.


Here's a photo I took of a pileated woodpecker on the ground in our yard a couple years ago. Fortunately he didn't start pecking on any of our trees!

[noreast]

I believe it's now the largest, unless someone has found an Ivory billed somewhere.

[kawishiwi]

Originally Posted by noreast

I believe it's now the largest, unless someone has found an Ivory billed somewhere.

Sightings & 'hearings' but no hard physical evidence...

https://video.nationalgeographic.com...r-ivory-billed

[SIKSUKR]

Here is some Pileated damage.

[webmaster]

If anyone is interested in more about Pileated Woodpeckers click "Search" at the top of a forum page and enter "Pileated". There are at least 12 other threads that mention them with some great pictures.

[Airedale1]

Lots of the links to many of my bird images are no longer functioning; as they were hosted on PhotoBucket.

Here is one I took of a Pileated in our yard. They are very skittish birds.

[JEEPONLY]

Look at the size of the chips they take!

[ursa minor]

We've lost two or three Hemlocks to bark beetles in the past few years. The pileated woodpeckers arrive and will strip the bark completely off an infested tree in a matter of a week or two getting at the beetles. They tap and twist with their head and beak, big chunks come off with what looks like little effort. I tried pulling the bark off by hand and could barely budge it...amazing birds.

[ApS]

I had an arborist look at a pine tree with a series of 2x6 holes in it. My concern was that the tree was aimed at our roof! The arborist was of the opinion that the tree would heal itself, and would not be a danger. (Carpenter ants make up 60% of their diet).

Originally Posted by noreast

I believe it's now the largest, unless someone has found an Ivory billed somewhere.

At 22 inches, the Imperial Woodpecker of Mexico would be the largest in North America. Like the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, it has severely declined in numbers since the 1950s, and is also "likely-extinct".

Originally Posted by Airedale1

Lots of the links to many of my bird images are no longer functioning; as they were hosted on PhotoBucket.

I participated in a Photobucket poll, and stated that an annual membership of $20/year would be reasonable (and not their announced $200 plan ). To refresh one's prior Photobucket photographs, I think they've just announced a $19/year plan!

Originally Posted by Airedale1

Here is one I took of a Pileated in our yard. They are very skittish birds.

On walks along forested roads, you'll see them playing "peek-a-boo" from behind the tree they're perched on.

In Florida, I watched one "working" a rotten branch, which was hanging by a long length of Spanish Moss. Since the big woodpecker had added his weight to the branch, the Spanish Moss slowly parted, and lowered the unsuspecting bird to the ground. I may have seen a rare Red-Faced Woodpecker flying off.

.

[VictorL]

A pair of Red-Bellied woodpeckers have been on our feeder this past week. They must be nesting nearby.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

[jacka82942]

in trees in lake ridge in meredith.

[BoatHouse]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

Here is some Pileated damage.

Those are some scary holes. I will be on the lookout for that kind of damage in my woods...

[JEEPONLY]

It is my understanding that the Pileated Woodpecker can rap its tongue around its brain, yes, inside its skull, to minimize the pressure of the force of the pounding needed to do the damage that they do!

[Airedale1]

Originally Posted by ApS

I participated in a Photobucket poll, and stated that an annual membership of $20/year would be reasonable (and not their announced $200 plan ). To refresh one's prior Photobucket photographs, I think they've just announced a $19/year plan!
.

The cheapest plan they offer is $60 per year and that is for storage only. The cheapest plan that they offer which allows you to share images on a forum such as this one is $100.00 a year.

If you want to do 3rd party hosting of your images it will set you back $400.00 per year. They won't get a dime from me.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Pileated Woodpeckers Are highly territorial. When you hear one kncking, grab a stick and hit a tree to mimick another. They almost always come closer to investigate.

[JEEPONLY]

The "possibly extinct" Ivory-billed woodpecker is a bit larger than the Pileated woodpecker- a little taller, a little longer in wingspread. Knowing how cool it is to see a Pleated, how great would it be to see the Ivory!