The pileated woodpecker may or may not be the largest woodpecker in North America. It all depends on if there are any ivory-billed woodpeckers out there. There have been many sightings, but none verified since the 1940s, which is why the ivory-billed is listed as “critically endangered/possibly extinct.” But this post is about the pileated, a fine creature in its own right. I photographed this cooperative bird several years back in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 400, f/4.5 at 1/500th of a second
All I know is that I saw several specimens of the pileated on a week-long fishing trip back in May of 2010 with my ex-boyfriend at his mom and stepdad’s place in southwestern Minnesota, and they well and truly earned my respect! Erica would set out empty pudding cups filled with a mixture of grape jelly and bird seed, and these monsters would make short work of it before getting to work on nearby older trees….
I hear/see pileated woodpeckers in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky most every time I hike there, which is very frequently. Wonderful birds. They make me believe the theory that birds are descended from dinosaurs! Great photograph!
I have seen birds with red and white striped heads pecking away at some of the older trees down here in Bonita Springs. I will have to try to get a picture next time I see one.
I see these regularly where I live in SW Florida. Their pecking sounds more like a harried chiseler at work, carving some masterpiece. They are gorgeous in flight! Great shot!
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The pileated woodpecker may or may not be the largest woodpecker in North America. It all depends on if there are any ivory-billed woodpeckers out there. There have been many sightings, but none verified since the 1940s, which is why the ivory-billed is listed as “critically endangered/possibly extinct.” But this post is about the pileated, a fine creature in its own right. I photographed this cooperative bird several years back in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.
All I know is that I saw several specimens of the pileated on a week-long fishing trip back in May of 2010 with my ex-boyfriend at his mom and stepdad’s place in southwestern Minnesota, and they well and truly earned my respect! Erica would set out empty pudding cups filled with a mixture of grape jelly and bird seed, and these monsters would make short work of it before getting to work on nearby older trees….
They certainly are formidable beasts.
I hear/see pileated woodpeckers in the Red River Gorge in Kentucky most every time I hike there, which is very frequently. Wonderful birds. They make me believe the theory that birds are descended from dinosaurs! Great photograph!
They do have a certain pterodactyl look about them.
—– Handsome lumberjack
—– Mantle dusty and disheveled
—– Pale amber eyes so clear .
I have seen birds with red and white striped heads pecking away at some of the older trees down here in Bonita Springs. I will have to try to get a picture next time I see one.
Beautiful clear shot. We have many of these in western MA.
I enjoy the woodpeckers. I also love their name in Portugese. Pica Pau.
That does have quite a ring to it.
I see these regularly where I live in SW Florida. Their pecking sounds more like a harried chiseler at work, carving some masterpiece. They are gorgeous in flight! Great shot!
Thanks Laura.
great shot, great pic., mybe they will show -up some day, in calif. and start new life from being insicts, by all babys and grand babbies. )
Thanks Michael.