Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker Information

Length:  16 - 19"

Habitat:  Mature deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests; second growth woodlands with some large trees; wooded residential areas. Prefers woodlands near streams and rivers. Presence of large, dead trees is a habitat requirement.

Diet:  Ants (especially, carpenter ants) and beetles; other insects; wild fruits and berries; nuts.

  Calls and drumming of Pileated Woodpecker


     Photo of Pileated Woodpecker at Nest Cavity

Interesting Facts about the Pileated Woodpecker

• The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America. This bird is 16 - 19 inches long and weighs approximately 9 - 12 oz, with the male being 10-15% heavier than the female.
• The territory of this bird may extend to a mile or more, which is one reason we tend to see fewer pileated woodpeckers in a given area than other types of woodpeckers.
• The pileated woodpecker's nest cavity is usually in a dead tree about 50 feet off the ground. The nest cavity tends to be more roundish than the oblong-shaped cavity excavated by these birds in search of insects.
• A pileated woodpecker pair will share territory throughout the year. However, the male and female birds roost separately at night. On rare occasions, they will roost in the same tree but, even then, each has its own roosting cavity.
  
  

Female Pileated Woodpecker

Photo credit: William Morris