Preferred Seed:
Sunflower seed, Peanuts, Suet
Description:
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest and most striking woodpeckers in North America. Known for its bold red crest and powerful drumming, this impressive bird is often heard before it is seen as it searches tree trunks for insects.
Feeder Type:
Suet, Platform
Nesting:
Pileated Woodpeckers excavate large nesting cavities in dead or decaying trees. Both parents help dig the cavity and raise the young.
Identification:
A large black woodpecker with a bright red crest and bold white stripes running down the neck. Males have a red stripe on the cheek while females have a black stripe. Their long chisel like bill and crow sized body make them easy to recognize.
Song Description:
A loud series of ringing calls often described as a wild laughing sound echoing through the forest.
How to Attract:
• Offer suet or peanut based seed blends
• Provide large suet feeders on sturdy poles or trees
• Maintain mature trees and wooded habitat nearby
• Provide fresh water in bird baths or natural sources
Fun Fact:
Pileated Woodpeckers leave large rectangular holes in trees when searching for carpenter ants, which are one of their favorite foods.
Residency:
Year round resident throughout much of the eastern United States, southern Canada, and parts of the Pacific Northwest where large forests are present.
Region:
United States, Southern Canada
Range Map:
Range Map © Chirp Nook
Best Seed Blend For
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
