Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae
Genus: Dryocopus

Audio for Species

Call
Song

from Macaulay Library

Species Related Links

Additional Pileated Woodpecker Pictures

Description

Length: 15.7-19.3 in (40-49 cm) Weight: 8.8-12.3 oz (250-350 g) Wingspan: 26-29.5 in (66-75 cm)

The Pileated is a large woodpecker, as large as a crow. It has a red crest on the head, white on the chin with a white line extending from the bill across the cheek and down the neck. Their body is black. The wings have a large oval white patch extending from near the body. Males have a red malar stripe between the white on cheek and chin, extending from the bill; the female has no red stripe and the female forehead is brownish-red.

Habitat, Range, and Feeding

Their breeding habitat is coniferous or deciduous forest, that have dispersed, large, dead trees. They roost in hollow trees or vacated nest cavities during the night and inclement weather. The male selects the nesting site. They both excavate the nest in mostly dead trees, but in live trees as well. Chips are left in the bottom of the nest. Tree diameter is at least 25.59 in (65 cm) to over 39.37 in (100 cm), with the mean height of at least 65.62 ft (20 m) to over 131.23 ft (40 m) and the nest hole being at 45.93 ft (14 m) to 124.67 ft (38 m) depending on the height of the tree. The clutch size is 1 to 6 eggs, that are white.

They eat insects, mainly carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larve, with some fruits and nuts.