Pileated Woodpecker

woodpeckers · North America · forest birds · insects

Massive and magnificent. The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker still living in North America, as big as a crow, with a bold red crest on its head that makes it instantly recognizable.

Expert tree carver. This woodpecker is famous for chiseling huge, nearly rectangular holes into tree trunks, which it uses to dig out insects hiding inside the wood or to create nesting cavities for raising babies.

Insect hunter. Pileated woodpeckers spend their days searching trees for insects to eat, using their strong beaks and long tongues to extract food from deep inside the bark and wood.

Wide-ranging resident. You can find these woodpeckers across much of North America, from eastern forests to the Great Lakes, Canada's boreal forests, and parts of the Pacific Coast.

Thriving and healthy. Unlike many wildlife species, pileated woodpecker populations are actually increasing, which means they are doing well and not at risk of disappearing.