Pileated Woodpecker

[kbarrett]

I was strolling through my woods the other day and was thrilled to spot a Pileated Woodpecker. I've not seen one this far south before. Typically I've seen them in Northern Lower Michigan.

A real rarity for Southwestern Michigan, at least in my books.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.birdsofna.org/excerpts/pileated.html>http://www.birdsofna.org/excerpts/pileated.html</A>

I hope he wasn't just passing through, but I suspect that he was. Nonetheless, a great day it was!

 

[patrickg]

Kevin, What a wonderful coincidence. I was out for a spin in my Dakota ranch truck earlier this evening just before twilight settled in to warm it up to flush the radiator and stopped by to visit a neighbor for a while. We were out side visiting for a half hour or so when a Pileated Woodpecker flew right by. I of course misidentified it but my friend/neighbor nailed it immediately. He was all jazzed because he had seen a yellow headed black bird last week. My wife and I had our only sighting of yellow headed blackbirds a month ago, a small flock on the ground by our shop bld.

Patrick

 

[RobS]

One of my favorite birds Kevin! I grew up with one in Indianapolis. We lived deep in the woods and a Pileated would visit often, frequently pecking at the cedar siding on the house looking for carpenter bees I think. My dad was a big bird fan, but didn't care for this behavior /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif That was 25 years ago but just a few years ago I swung by that house just for fun and a pileated flew across the driveway right in front of me. Really took me back!

Very impressive bird, congratulations on your spotting one /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[dlabrie]

I live in N. central NH and we have a couple of Pileated Woodpeckers around our house. We hear them all the time but only rarely see them. What an impressive bird!
David

 

[Argee]

Kevin,
I live in Northern MI. and have seen a few Pileated Woodpeckers. Haven't seen any so far this spring. Maybe your sighting is one that's headed up this way./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[RichZ]

Pileated woodpeckers are one of my favorite birds also. Last year I was thrilled to have a pair nest in a huge oak tree right in front of our house. They just returned last week and appear to be nesting again./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[rmorgan]

We see two of pileateds often enough we think they're got a nest in the woods--there's a stump in the "yard" that must be riddled with what they like! What a pair!! /w3tcompact/icons/grin.gif They actually range well north and south of here (Ohio)--Nova Scotia to Florida and west to Texas.

 

[TerryinMD]

Yes, we see them quite often here in Western Maryland - Washington County, just over the Appalachian Trail.

Terry

 

[looch]

I've seen them while moose hunting in northern Quebec. Really neat - they fly like an oversized Blue Jay (flap, flap, coast - flap, flap, coast).

 

[TonyC]

We have Pileated woodpeckers pass through here quite regularly. They are beautiful birds and I love seeing them but unfortunately they are often destructive. I already have a terrible problem with carpenterbees. Those big black and yellow son-of-a-guns that look like bumble bees.

If you are not familiar, carpenter bees drill perfectly round holes in your eaves, soffits and wherever to lay eggs. They will riddle your building with these holes and they are very difficult to get rid of. These bad boy's destruction are compunded by the pileated woodpecker. When they hear that buzzing they will stop at nothing to get to that snack. The good news is they eat the bees. The bad news is...well, see attached photo.

Still in all I am a lover of nature and will learn to get around this problem