Perhaps we are getting a new neighbor.

[jackb]

We don't see many of these but I heard one making a racket in our yard this afternoon. The quality of the photo is not the best as the yard is very icy and dangerous to walk through, so I shot with telephoto lens. I hope it is pecking out a nest, as I would love to have it as a neighbor.

"The pileated woodpecker is a large woodpecker native to North America. This crow-sized bird normally inhabits deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast."

 

[Nyboy]

I have one who often visits my feeder

 

[Smart Red]

Good for you both. We've seen three kinds of woodpeckers out back in the woods, but other than ladderback, I can't remember what kinds.

 

[jackb]

It was playing hide and seek moving around to the back side of the tree each time I got into position to take a photo. And, it can really chop holes in trees as huge chunks of the tree were coming off.

 

[thistlebloom]

That's pretty cool!
We have them around here, but I've only seen one once, a little north of us when we were dropping off some equipment for repairs.
I see Downy, Hairy (woodpeckers) and Northern Flickers a lot on our property. I'd love to have a Pileated as a neighbor.

 

[canesisters]

OOOHHHH! I LOVE those guys! I see a lot of smaller ones but I'm not sure what species. There are a lot of yellow shafted flickers here. Not much of that lovely "knock,knock,knock, knock!" but real pretty when they fly off.

 

[thistlebloom]

Not much of that lovely "knock,knock,knock, knock!"

It seems that some woodpeckers have discovered that beating their beaks on metal objects makes the sound go farther. We have heard them tapping on the transformer on the pole up at the road.

Some people have had them on their metal chimneys, which I am grateful that none of our locals have discovered yet. Maybe because ours is in use until they have already attracted a mate.
They are some of my favorites though, especially Flickers since I read that carpenter ants make up about 70% of their diet. Go Woody!

 

[Smart Red]

We had one fiesty fellow who loved the tonal quality of our combine. For hours and hours, that metal monster rang as he sought a mate. Considered offering myself to that purpose just for the peace it would bring.

 

[jackb]

That's pretty cool!
We have them around here, but I've only seen one once, a little north of us when we were dropping off some equipment for repairs.
I see Downy, Hairy (woodpeckers) and Northern Flickers a lot on our property. I'd love to have a Pileated as a neighbor.

Today was the first time Theresa has seen one. We have the Downy, Hairy, and Flickers at the feeder but I have seldom seen Pileated as they are very shy birds. It must have really been desperate to hang around while I was taking photos. They are really big birds and have a peculiar call, almost like a squirrel.

 

[valley ranch]

Nice looking guy ~ just got a hair cut ~ looks like ```