Week of 01.27.25
This week's bird is a familiar favorite, the pileated woodpecker. The loudest and biggest in the woodpecker family, the pileated is distinguishable from others by its large size (15-20 inches tall) and shock of red plumage.
These birds are loud. They announce their arrival in flight shortly before landing with a repeated, high pitch tone. Like all woodpeckers, they drum on trees. On a clear day, the pileated's drumming can be heard from a quarter mile away.
Drumming on trees (and sometimes roofs, much to the chagrin of homeowners), serves multiple purposes. The first is to find food. Dead trees are buffets for members of the woodpecker family. Drilling into tree bark overturns ants, beetles, and termites. Woodpeckers also feed on berries.
Did you know? 60% of a pileated woodpecker's diet is comprised of carpenter ants.
Woodpeckers drum on trees to signal their territory. Drumming on wood alerts nearby animals to their presence, similar to how other birds use song. Woodpeckers will also drum on trees to announce that they are ready to mate.
These birds live in forests, and prefer areas mixed with conifers and deciduous trees. They can be found in the Midwest, East, and Pacific Northwest United States. They do not migrate.
This week's B.O.T.W. pop culture influence comes from Charley Harper, a famous illustrator who focused on using geometric shapes to create animals. A photo of his work featuring a pileated woodpecker can be seen below. Notice the tongue reaching out for an ant!
Have a great week!
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Sources:
Art by Anne Longman