Cats and Trails and Garden Tales
Musings on cats, travel, gardens and life
Pileated Woodpecker – a Visitation
“It’s a woodpecker!” Bob saw him in the backyard and called me to come quickly with my camera. (He knows me well.)
And not any woodpecker, a Pileated Woodpecker, the largest in North America, a flaming, red-topped beauty.
I didn’t want to miss the bird, camera or not.
He was on the Douglas Fir free, big as life, hunting insects in the bark. While I went to find my camera, he flew over to the Hemlock, where I managed to get a shot off before he went higher up in the tree.
One good shot, though a bit blurry.
“The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.”
Meanwhile, back on the ground, Benji was not impressed.
~ Susanne
Cats and Trails and Garden Tales 
The blur doesn’t matter, the bird is still beautiful, Susanne! He must be a cousin to Woody Woodpecker, I think Woody has a red crest too. 🤭 Benji is sooo cute! 🥰
Yep, I think Woody was a pileated woodpecker! 🙂
I dated myself with that comment didn’t I, Susanne! I’m 63 years young. I love the old cartoons, they still make me laugh when I see them. 😊
I remember Woody and almost mentioned him in my post!
Woody, Wiley E Coyote, Elmer Fudd… bring them back! ❤️
Did Benji see the woodpecker?
I’m not exactly sure but he was in the yard at the same time. I think it was too big and high up for him to be interested in. He likes the little ones on the ground! 🙂
What a beautiful bird, Susanne! Such an interesting face and colors! Years ago, while in NorCal, I saw an Acorn Woodpecker–very similar! Benji does look bored, LOL!
I was thrilled to have him drop by; Benji didn’t seem to care much. Too big and too high up, I think, he likes the little ones on the ground, with sinister motives! 🙂
They are magnificent birds!
Truly! I hope he stays around in the neighborhood!
nice that you could take those pictures. Even if the bird bores Benji
I was happy to get a picture of that beautiful bird!
They are protected in Indiana – We had one brought to us on campus as it had been injured when the grounds keepers were cutting down some trees. We were able to get it to a wildlife rehabilitator and after it was mended it was released at the same place it had been found… It was a really big bird! And the beak is wicked long and sharp!
I’m glad it was saved. I think they’re protected here, too. It was so beautiful, I was thrilled to have him drop by.
Nice photos Susanne and a great encounter. Used to see them, and hear them, in the woods of one place I lived in Port Townsend. They way they would hammer away at a tree gave me a headache!
Thanks, Graham. If I had my camera nearby I could have gotten a lot more, but hey, I’ll take what I got! I’ve only seen them rarely on hikes in the woods, and also had a visitation to my yard once before, years ago. Not sure I would appreciate the daily hammering if he decided to take up residence. 🙂
Very cool!!
Wow, that’s an impressive woodpecker, although Benji looks as if he’d rather you paid attention to him than to a bird!
He was huge, and the red crest was awesome! Benji was rather indifferent, preferring small birds on the ground! 😉
Blurry or not, it was worth the capture. A magnificent bird indeed!
Best wishes, Pete.
Thanks, Pete. If I’d had my camera nearby, I would have taken more photos, but I was so thrilled to see him, and happy to get one good shot.
What a beautiful bird!
Truly!
We’ve noticed our own version of wood pecker in our yard since the Line wildfire has driven them from their mountain habitat. I don’t know what they will find to eat down here in the valley and it’s surely too hot for them to thrive. So far, it’s burned about 62 square miles and it’s still spreading.
So sad about the fire and its impact on people and wildlife. Hopefully nature will provide food for the dislocated. I always keep water out for the birds and they appreciate it.