Home, near and far.
The Pileated Woodpecker is widely distributed across much of southern Canada, throughout the eastern United States, and along parts of the Pacific Coast and northern Rockies.
Birds Heard
FIELD GUIDE
FIELD GUIDE
Woodpeckers
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
The Pileated Woodpecker is a striking, crow-sized bird, recognized by its prominent red crest and mostly black body with bold white markings. It is the largest confirmed extant woodpecker in North America. This powerful excavator leaves distinctive rectangular holes in trees while foraging for insects.
Resident, large, loud, insectiYear-round, crow-sized, drummi
- Length
- 40-49 cm
- Wingspan
- 66-76 cm
- Weight
- 250-350 g
Typical adult measurements.
Individuals and populations vary.
01 / The telltale details
You’ll know it
when you see it.
Start with shape and behavior. Then look for the smaller details.
- 01
Red Crest
Both sexes have a bright red, pointed crest that sweeps back from the head.
- 02
Plumage
Mostly black body with bold white stripes on the face and neck. White flashes are visible under the wings in flight.
- 03
Male Distinction
Males have a red stripe, often called a 'mustache' or malar stripe, extending from the bill, and the red crest reaches the base of the bill.
- 04
Female Distinction
Females lack the red malar stripe, having a black one instead, and a small black or brownish patch at the front of their crest.
02 / A place in the world
Where life
takes it.
This species favors mature deciduous, coniferous, or mixed forests, requiring large standing dead trees and downed logs for foraging and nesting. It can also be found in fragmented woodlots and suburban areas with sufficient large trees.
Stay a while. Or follow the season.
Generally considered a permanent resident throughout its range, though some migratory movement, typically southward, has been observed in the northernmost parts of its distribution during fall.
03 / Listen a little closer
A voice
of its own.
Produces a loud, ringing, and often whinnying call, sometimes described as a series of 'cuk-cuk-cuk' notes. It also drums loudly on trees.
04 / The life behind the feathers
A day in its world.
On the menu.
Primarily insectivorous, its diet largely consists of carpenter ants and the larvae of wood-boring beetles. It also consumes other insects, termites, fruits, and nuts.
Forages by excavating deep, often rectangular, holes in dead trees, stumps, and fallen logs to access insect nests. It uses its long, sticky tongue to extract prey.
A place to begin.
Pairs are monogamous and typically excavate a new nest cavity each year in a dead or decaying tree. Both parents share incubation duties and feed the young.
The little routines.
Pileated Woodpeckers are territorial year-round, defending their area with loud drumming and calls. They often forage silently but can be conspicuous in flight.
One more reason to pay attention
A familiar face.
A few surprises.
The large cavities excavated by Pileated Woodpeckers for nesting and roosting provide essential shelter for many other wildlife species, including owls, ducks, and bats.
The genus name 'Dryocopus' means 'tree cleaver,' reflecting the bird's powerful excavating abilities.
The species' population declined with historical forest clearing but has recovered since the early 20th century due to reforestation and farm abandonment.
05 / An eye for the difference
Could it be
someone else?
Ivory-billed Woodpecker
Campephilus principalisThe Ivory-billed Woodpecker, if still extant, has extensive white on its back and a pale bill, unlike the mostly black back and dark bill of the Pileated.
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratusNorthern Flickers are smaller, brown-backed, and typically forage on the ground, lacking the Pileated's prominent red crest and extensive black plumage.
Red-headed Woodpecker
Melanerpes erythrocephalusRed-headed Woodpeckers are smaller with an entirely red head, distinct from the Pileated's black body and red crest.
Behind these field notesResearch & references · 12 sources
AI-assisted species research. Prepared September 2026. Details can vary across regions and populations.