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Bird Identification

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Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus, Length: 17"

Look For

The Pileated is difficult to confuse with any other bird because of its large size and obvious red crest. Perched, the Pileated appears mostly black except for the head and neck. The bright white underwings are an excellent field mark on distant flying Pileateds.

Listen for

Pileateds are very vocal; the series of notes in its long, loud call sounds like someone laughing. It is similar to the call of the Northern Flicker, but louder and more excited. In flight, they may utter single or double notes of the same quality. Also drums loudly, with a pattern that slows down as it ends.

Remember

The much rarer (and possibly extinct) Ivory-billed Woodpecker has a white bill and black throat, and shows huge white wing patches when perched.

Find it

As the woodlands of North America have returned, so has the Pileated Woodpecker. It is most common in mature woods with large trees but also found in city parks and suburban neighborhoods.

Wow!

If you see a large rectangular hole chiseled in a large tree, it's the work of the Pileated Woodpecker. They need to create large holes to get to ants and grubs in the rotting centers of old trees.

This profile is an excerpt from The Young Birder's Guide by Bill Thompson, III. Purchase an autographed copy from our nature store, and check out other BWD titles designed to help you identify backyard birds.

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