Pileated woodpeckers

 

A kitchen window surprise...

 

I've never seen a Pileated woodpecker this close to our house before!

I think it's a female because there's no red streak on the cheek.

 

The pileated woodpecker is the largest North American woodpecker

 (with the exception of the possibly-extinct Ivory-Billed woodpecker). 

Every time I spot a pileated, it takes my breath away. 

 

Sometimes I can hear them and not see them.

Their sounds are loud, distinct, and hard to miss.

Listen to some of their sounds here.

I've been seeing evidence of pileated bill-work in the yard for awhile.

They've been especially fond of our white pines lately.

The cavities they make provide shelter for other birds...

This one is most likely too low for a bird to take shelter,
but I bet some whimsical things might magically find their way in there
this spring and summer. 

It seems like a perfect spot
to hide a treasure map or
to stow away some love notes or poems.

Or maybe the fairies want a nice room...
in which case, I'll have to make some fairy furniture.

 

The pine sap dripped and dripped, but in this cold,

it froze to an icy lavender color.  I like it. 

As you can see, our resident pileated and/or her mate

have been quite busy with this pine.

 

Sometimes from a distance this tree

looks like it's being turned into a woodland flute...

I guess it's a flute fit for a giant.

 

I wonder what kind of sound

a giant pine tree flute would make?

 

 

I'm not the only one with a pileated woodpecker coming to a suet feeder.

Check out this amazing close-up video.

 

If you ever wondered what it feels like to be a tree, this might give you an idea...

at least an idea of what it would feel like to be a tree with a pileated woodpecker visiting! 

 

 

Normal and slow speed...

Warning: this might make your head hurt.

 

 

And here's a great video of a Papa Pileated feeding his young.