All You Need to Know About Pileated Woodpeckers

🐦Pileated woodpeckers are the largest woodpecker in North America, measuring roughly 16 to 20 inches in length and weighing 9 to 12 ounces.

🚧Their powerful bills and long necks enable them to make a loud 'thunk' sound as they hammer trees, searching for insects and excavating nests.

🏠Pileated woodpeckers can sometimes be destructive to homes, but humane deterrence methods like wind socks and reflective tape can help protect your property.

🥁Their distinctive drumming sound serves multiple purposes, including attracting mates and defending territory.

💑Pileated woodpeckers mate for life and raise a single brood of chicks each year, contributing to their role as important cavity nesters within ecosystems.

What do pileated woodpeckers eat?

—Pileated woodpeckers primarily feed on carpenter ants, wood-boring beetle larvae, termites, and other insects, but they also consume small amounts of fruits and nuts.

How can I attract pileated woodpeckers to my yard?

—Providing suet and seeds can attract pileated woodpeckers to your yard. Keeping dead or dying trees can also create suitable nesting and roosting sites for them.

Are pileated woodpeckers migratory?

—Pileated woodpeckers are resident birds, meaning they do not migrate. However, individuals may occasionally wander far from their breeding areas.

How can I deter pileated woodpeckers from damaging my house?

—To deter pileated woodpeckers, you can try wind socks, pinwheels, helium balloons, or strips of aluminum foil. It's important to address any insect problems underlying the woodpecker behavior.

Are pileated woodpeckers endangered?

—Pileated woodpeckers are not currently endangered. Their population is estimated to be close to 2 million.

00:06Pileated woodpeckers have a slippery name pronunciation, but the correct term is 'pileated.'

01:27Pileated woodpeckers have a wide habitat range, living in Canada, the eastern states of the US, and northwestern forests.

02:52Mated pair pileated woodpeckers stay together year-round, except during fall and winter when they roost in different locations.

04:08Pileated woodpeckers nest in dead or dying trees, creating round and large holes as nesting cavities.

06:37Pileated woodpeckers feed on insects like carpenter ants, wood-boring beetle larvae, termites, and also consume small amounts of fruits and nuts.