Pl. VII
The Birds · Plate VII
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Picidae · Taxon 17855
| Length | 40–49 cm (15.8–19.3 in) |
| Wingspan | 66–75 cm (26.0–29.5 in) |
| Weight | 250–350 g (8.8–12.3 oz) |
Field marks
- Very large, crow-sized woodpecker with a long neck and broad wings
- Prominent swept-back, flaming-red crest
- Mostly black body with bold white facial and neck stripes
- Long, straight, chisel-like dark bill about head length
- Stiff, pointed black tail braced against trunks while climbing
- Male has a red cheek/malar stripe; female lacks it
HabitatMature deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests with large standing dead trees, stumps, and downed decaying wood; also uses wooded areas retaining these features.
BehaviorForages deliberately on trunks, stumps, and fallen wood; uses its heavy bill to excavate large rectangular holes for carpenter ants and other insects. Also drums on dead wood and gives loud, whinnying calls.
Palette
blackflaming redwhiteslate graypale yellow