Do you have any pine trees in your area? Do they have decaying cavities in them? Well, perhaps you have one of the largest woodpeckers in North America, the pileated woodpecker, living inside! They like to nest in such spots and will peck away at the hole so that the sap will flow, making for a really sticky entrance. This keeps predators away. Trees used for roosting may have as many as 16 exits to allow quick escape. It has been found that the male woodpecker does 3 times the work as the female when it comes to making the nest. They very seldom use an old nest again, though they may use the hole for roosting. It usually takes 3-6 weeks to make a suitable nest. Both parents feed the youngsters. A lot of their excavated holes are abandoned, only half finished, providing homes for many other species, especially tree-nesting ducks.
They eat insects, seeds, fruits, and sometimes sap from the trees. Their favorite food is carpenter ants, and they can be found sitting around on the forest floor searching for those yummy insects.
With their bright red caps, white streaks, and long necks, they are hard to miss. The male even has a bright red mustache to complete his dapper look. Most photos of the pileated woodpecker show them sitting on a tree, but if you are lucky, you will get to see it in flight. They are white under their wings, edged in black. Beautiful.
The pileated woodpecker has been removed from the status of endangered species, but you'll still count yourself lucky to see one.
I hope if you have the opportunity to see a pileated woodpecker that you share your experience with those of us less fortunate! Let me know if you have pileated woodpeckers in your area.
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