Male and female Pileated Woodpeckers are in full spring preparations

Description

I first thought it was a kingfisher flying over me and watched closely as the Male Pileated Woodpecker flew over to a nearby tree. I will thrilled to see the female Pileated Woodpecker join in the work after a few minutes. The male begins excavating the nest cavity and does most of the work, but the female contributes, as the hole nears completion. The entrance hole is oblong rather than the circular shape of most woodpecker holes. Pileated Woodpeckers don’t line their nests with any material except for leftover wood chips. The impressive rectangular excavations can be a foot or more long and go deep inside the wood. These holes pursue the tunnels of carpenter ants, the woodpecker’s primary food.

Taken By

Betty Dingwell

Taken On

April 8, 2026

Tagged

plant tree animal bird woodpecker tree_trunk vertebrate beak pileated_woodpecker wing piciformes twig trunk feather

Assignments

Wildlife