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| A Pileated Woodpecker scans his surroundings. |
I don’t believe I’ve ever, in my entire life, caught sight
of a Pileated Woodpecker and not stopped whatever I was doing simply
to observe the largest of North America’s woodpeckers at work. And if their presence was made known audibly by a loud, ringing cuck
cuck cuck, that too was cause to scan the immediate area in
search of a dark, crow-sized bird with white neck stripes and a
prominent red crest atop its head. Even on the fly there is no mistaking the Pileated Woodpecker’s
undulating flight pattern, or those easy to spot white markings on
the underside of their wings.
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| What's for lunch today? |
Although we’ve not yet heard their tell-tale call in the
winter months spotting them has not been difficult. With zero
foliage they are easier to espy, whether on the wing while passing
through the open woodlands or alternately probing and hammering away
at tree bark.
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| This male is taking a brief break from drilling for his next meal. |
In recent days, with arctic air invading the area, the Pileated
Woodpecker was a sight to behold for sure as evidenced by this male
in a large Cottonwood tree. He seemed oblivious to the cold,
undeterred by single digit and even below zero temps. Personally, we
found him to be a natural delight, both entertaining, amusing and a
joy to watch.
Until
next time,
Jim
& Claudia
Thank you as always Jim and Claudia for enlightening us on the wonderful world of nature. I agree that the sight of a Pileated Woodpecker stops you in your tracks. It's hard to miss their sound in the winter woods with a snow covered forest floor deadening most other noises. Thanks again.
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