Pileated Woodpecker

Overview

The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, crow-sized woodpecker native to North America, recognised as the largest confirmed extant woodpecker species on the continent. It inhabits a broad range of forested environments, from boreal forests to the Great Lakes region, and is currently categorised as a species of least concern due to its increasing population.

Identification

• Predominantly black plumage featuring a prominent red crest and a white stripe running down the sides of the throat.
• Adult males possess a red line extending from the bill to the throat, while adult females have a black line in this area.
• Large body size, measuring 40 to 49 cm in length with a wingspan of 66 to 75 cm, and white wing feathers visible in flight.
• Strong, direct flight that undulates in a manner characteristic of woodpeckers.

Habitat

Native to North America, the species breeds in forested areas across Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific Coast. It favours mature forests, mesic habitats with large hardwood trees, and heavily wooded parks, though it can also inhabit smaller late-successional woodlots. Its range includes boreal forests and it is non-migratory, staying on its territory year-round.

Diet

Primarily an insectivore, the pileated woodpecker feeds on insects living in trees, particularly carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. It extracts prey by chipping large, roughly rectangular holes in tree trunks and also forages around fallen, dead trees, especially after forest fires. The species occasionally supplements its diet with fruits, nuts, and berries, including those from poison ivy.

Did you know?

Pileated woodpeckers are famous for excavating large, nearly rectangular cavities in dead trees for nesting, which can be so sizeable that they cause a small tree to break in half. These abandoned nesting holes later provide essential shelter for a wide variety of other species, including owls, raccoons, and songbirds.