Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

This impressive forest dweller drums out impressive territorial beats and excavates massive rectangular holes in its quest for carpenter ants.

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Visual Identification

Appearance

The Pileated Woodpecker is a striking, crow-sized bird with a predominantly black body, white stripes on the face and neck, and a distinctive red crest. Its powerful chisel-like bill and long neck are adaptations for excavating wood.

Males have a red moustachial stripe, while females lack this feature and have a brown forehead. Juveniles resemble adults but have a shorter crest and duller plumage.

Size

Length

40cm to 49cm

Wingspan

66cm to 75cm

Weight

250g to 350g

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black White Red

Beak Colour

Grey

Leg Colour

Grey

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

The Pileated Woodpecker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Pileated Woodpecker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Distribution

Pileated Woodpeckers inhabit mature deciduous and mixed forests across North America, from southern Canada to the eastern United States and parts of the Pacific Northwest. They prefer areas with large, old trees and abundant dead wood.

In the United States, they are found in both old-growth and second-growth forests and have adapted to some suburban areas with sufficient tree cover. Their range has expanded in some regions due to forest regrowth.

Elevation Range

Sea level to 2,300 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical

Distribution Map

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Pileated Woodpecker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons