The Pileated Woodpecker has been a nemesis bird for my camera for a long time. I heard and saw them often at my old house in New York, but only had a decent photo op once, from across a creek while the sun was setting behind the bird.
My local Pileated Woodpecker from New York
Sure, it’s a nice enough photo, but it was the only time it happened — until I moved to Pennsylvania. My backyard is all wooded and backs into about an acre of a non-private, mature forest. With age comes dead trees and a ton of trees with dead limbs. I get a lot of Downy Woodpeckers, a couple of Hairy Woodpecker pairs, a Red-bellied pair and also Flickers – along with my favorite, the Pileated Woodpecker.
The Pileateds are very vocal – I often hear them banging on trees or making their “kuk kuk” sound. I can usually easily find them, especially when the leaves are not so full. There are two areas that they prefer – a very dead and large Oak tree behind my house and a dead stump in front of my house. I’ve gotten my best photos from these trees – especially the one in the back.
Just today, the female was flying from tree-to-tree all around the woods. Every tree she stopped on had either a dead limb or holes to inspect.
Female Pileated Woodpecker inspecting a hole
They are always finding really good grub to feast on!
The male Pileated Woodpecker with a mouth full of grub
Female Pileated Woodpecker with her tongue out
They really do make a mess – The large oak already has plenty of holes in it and it’s only a matter of time before it has no more bark left.
Male Pileated Woodpecker chipping away at the oak
Female Pileated Woodpecker making a mess on newly fallen snow
I take most of my photos from either one of my decks or from my bathroom window, which gets me a nice look at the top part of the dead oak. I can open the window and shoot away without disturbing the birds. They also never seem to mind me while they are busy chipping away at the trees, as long as I do not make any sudden motion toward them.
Pileated Woodpecker with her crest up
Female Pileated Woodpecker in a thin tree
Male Pileated Woodpecker
Female Pileated Woodpecker
I am so happy to share my yard with these wonderful birds!