I saw my dog sitting so nice and still staring into the woods for over 15 min. I thought she was watching a squirrel but much to my surprise it was a WOODY WOODPECKER which is what everyone I know calls them.
“I” in Greek(or Latin) is always pronounced with an “E” sound. I have an old pine tree that they congregate in. I’m lucky enough to have 60 wooded acres behind me and army core tributary property to one side.
You have the best information. Just saw one of these fly into my feeder area and never seen one before. Huge bird. He looked around the squirrel trap which something wiped out all the bait peanuts yesterday. Than over to the peanut delight suet's which something also wiped out yesterday. And flew away hungry. Guess i know what wiped out all the peanuts and peanut suet yesterday.
I just seen my second Pileated woodpecker in my tree just now! Tree is rotted some and have holes where branches had been cut many years. They are so neat to get to see! I love in...Tama, Iowa!!!
I have a lumber company 2000 acre Forrest, and several different types of woodpeckers. And I love the sounds they make. And I in Greek is also pronounced EGO.
I saw one in my yard in Southern Coastal Maine a few days ago...so thrilled! We have several old trees in our yard that I treasure and being on the water they discourage cutting them down. Only the 2nd time in my 71 years that I have seen one.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of this bird with us, Mr. McKellar. My wife and I live behind a creek in North Central Arkansas where we have many tall Sweetgum and Sycamore Trees. Two of the Sycamore trees have holes that have been used by the Pileated Woodpeckers in the past. One year we had Wood Ducks have a brood of ducklings. We couldn't hardly believe it, but the little ducks jumped every bit of 35-40 feet from the hole where they nested, hit the ground, bounced and ran to the edge of the yard where they proceeded to follow mama duck. :) Anyway, the bit of information about the birds liking peanuts will come in handy. I will build a platform feeder and and see what happens. By the way, I have also seen the Pileated Woodpeckers feed on Sumac, Carolina Buckthorne and Poison Ivy Berries.
Coincidentally I had one of these visit one of the feeders that was out that was originally meant with bluebirds ( it was a mealworm suet feeder that had perches and it was hanging on a wooden post) and it visited easter Sunday and it was also the first time I’ve seen one visit a feeder in real life
Vancouver BC area, backyard backs onto greenbelt, large (100+ foot) Douglas Firs and Cedars. We have the tail prop suet feeder and have had a family of pileated woodpeckers visiting for years. This year the parents brought their young birds (male and female) first to the trees behind the house to bring them suet. Then later onto the feeder to feed them. And then just keeping them company while they fed themselves. The only problem we have is keeping the Stellar Jays off the suet as they will eat until none is left. But the pileated woodpeckers are good at announcing their arrival so we can put the suet out for them.
We don't have to deal with Steller's Jays. It is interesting that our Blue Jays don't bother suet at all. The Pileateds certainly can run them off but I guess the issue is the times that they are away from the feeder that the jays empty it. Good luck.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I don't mind if they eat some of the suet, but they pass a message onto a local flock and all of a sudden a half dozen stellars are there until no suet is left. We also get a family of Flickers and a family of Downies. Occasionally a Hairy. They are very active when the young are fledging and parents teach them how to land on the suet feeder and feed from it.
I'm so glad I've found your channel! I live in swfl and have started feeding my neighborhood birds and photographing them. I have red bellied woodpeckers that stop by. Every morning I hear the paleated drilling wood. But havent seen him yet.
We have resided in our house for 48 years. We live very close to parks and woods. The first time I ever heard of or saw this woodpecker was probably three years ago. I did notice It came to our tree what seemed to be breakfast lunch and supper. It is a dogwood. We had 10 blue spruce cutdown because they all got exposed to something and died. We left the trunks about two or three feet so i can put flower pots on them. All of a sudden I noticed the pileated woodpecker pecking on the trunks. I am now retired so I am able to to see more birds. Since it is december, Iill watch more carefully for the pileated. Since last year I saw a big owl in another tree in our yard close to my dogwood. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I'm new to birds and by no means an expert but I'm pretty sure I remember reading in my books that they do have different crests. I read that the female red crest does not come all the way down the forehead like the male but stops short and turns to black.
I've been trying to locate a source to purchase beef kidney suet which is commonly offered in the freezer section in the supermarket in the midwest. Here in the east, it cannot be purchased at all! I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But I also have a trailer in New Jersey. Both areas have many farming communities. But for some reason, fresh unrendered suet is not offered here for purchase. I was told at supermarkets that their beef comes to them already trimmed, so they do not have it to offer for sale. In MN my Aunt lived near Minneapolis and had Pileated Woodpeckers coming to her yard for the unrendered suet she put out in a cage feeder. She moved 150 miles north to Duluth, and within a month or two had Pileated Woodpeckers coming to her yard for the unrendered suet. She also offers suet cakes, but the Pileated Woodpecker seems to prefer the raw suet. Why can't the rest of the country have this product?
Unfortunately, the small independent "meat markets" are disappearing. My guess is there is one or two left in your area it is just going to take some serious looking. Older sections of larger towns are likely locations. Areas that the big box stores haven't moved in and run little guys out of business. Good luck! BTW, I love northern Minnesota.
You hit the nail on the head with your opening remarks. Saw a pileated for the first time a couple of months ago when I moved to our new home and it has spurned a birding obsession! My pair comes to my suet several days a month, and its always exciting. Thanks for the videos!
Thanks for the education about the suet feeder with the tail rest I think I’ll make one!! The cackle they have that you spoke of. I believe is often used in tropical movies even though is it, Northwoods Bird!! Also there flight in the air is quite different than any other bird. They kind of pump pump and sink pump pump and sink.Theres a descent habitat here in Northern Wisconsin
In Arkansas I seen in the mid 80's bigger than the Pileated. Everyone I knew said they were extinct, do not exist. I wrote on my post card. did sketches THEY sound like an enormous NUTHATCH. They stayed mainly in the lower levels. In the OLD FOREST of the OZARKS. Farmer from Texas cut so many of the trees on the other side of my property, and after that when there was a terrible Ice storm with about 4 in thick of ice. on everything. They left. Others then also seen them. But people did not like having strangers coming and trampling through trying to find them. (Ginseng) So not much was mentioned. anymore. So say they had been seen rarely in other lower states, but the word is somewhat hush hush.
I thought thought the female with a black crest was like some that are born like some birds that are Albino. Only problem they are big. In the Reader's Digest book on American birds show the Ivory seen in Florida, Mississippi Louisiana Alabama and Georgia lower parts,. People I had known, said they do not want strangers to know, to upset them. Some worry with developers, and so many migrants coming through will upset the Ivory. But say the ones they had seen and heard are mainly in the Bayous, Swamp area. Some say they seen them in Florida, but when the swamp waters were drained , causing so much disruption to so many birds. It was hard for a comeback, and had not seen or heard the Ivory. MOVIE "PELICAN BRIEF ", explained what was happened, and why the swamp waters were drained Pretty good movie. I just might watch it again. .Hope you get to see one. A sight I will never forget. Sold my land for 8,000 knew the buyer, and I know I could have gotten 56 thousand. But I live in WI. and when someone stolen everything to even maintain the land. I wanted to not wait years for it to be sold.@@MarksBackyardBirds
It’s impossible! I saw one in my backyard less than two weeks ago , so I put a suet and two more bird feeders with good that they like , but blue jays and those black big birds have invaded our backyard , I can’t stand them , they are so mean with the small birds and like bullies . Plus they come in groups of 15
They are a beautiful and fascinating prehistoric animal, i can not ommit to lamment the responsibility of united statians for exterminating its cousin species the ivory billed woodpecker. All because of victorian hat feathers, systematic lumbering, and stupid plain shooting by united statians. As a non american i am angry that you deprived the world of this bird, that belonged to all of us and that you made extinct.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Not a good excuse. In other countries extinctions of large animals date back to savage times before recorded history maybe usa is comparable.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Which points to the massive coast to coast irresponsible lumbering activity of the usa in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, on a scale that the world had never seen. Stripping all old-growth forests systematically. This was before the concept of national parks was adopted. Usa was a rogue country run by bandits who stripped earth ressources that belonged to all humanity, not them. But let's not play hypocrite, bird shooting was a united statian passtime. It was considered a 'sport', the history on it is recorded and carries a direct guilt as to the extermination of other native birds too like the North Carolina parakeet and the passengers pigeons the latter who existed in flocks by the hundred of millions.
I saw my dog sitting so nice and still staring into the woods for over 15 min. I thought she was watching a squirrel but much to my surprise it was a WOODY WOODPECKER which is what everyone I know calls them.
Nice!
We have a pair of Pileated woodpeckers in our yard ,eating their share of cicadas! They are fun to watch
That’s awesome!
An amazingly gorgeous bird. I get them at my suet feeders and they are always a sight to behold!
Jealous
They are beautiful birds. I love their call in the woods.
@@Rob_2020 I think they sound like they are laughing at you.
@@MarksBackyardBirds yes 🙌
I have 1 coming to my feeder the last 3 days in a row. I have never saw one before ever in my life. Amazing, it's huge and looks like a dinosaur!!!
They are impressive birds!
“I” in Greek(or Latin) is always pronounced with an “E” sound. I have an old pine tree that they congregate in. I’m lucky enough to have 60 wooded acres behind me and army core tributary property to one side.
I saw one this morning for first time!❤
They are awesome birds!
You have the best information. Just saw one of these fly into my feeder area and never seen one before. Huge bird.
He looked around the squirrel trap which something wiped out all the bait peanuts yesterday. Than over to the peanut delight suet's which something also wiped out yesterday. And flew away hungry. Guess i know what wiped out all the peanuts and peanut suet yesterday.
Thank you. They are impressive birds!
I just seen my second Pileated woodpecker in my tree just now! Tree is rotted some and have holes where branches had been cut many years. They are so neat to get to see! I love in...Tama, Iowa!!!
They are impressive birds. I love watching them
A lot of good info. Thanks! I had one in my yard so big I thought it was a baby Ivory Billed.
I have a lumber company 2000 acre Forrest, and several different types of woodpeckers. And I love the sounds they make. And I in Greek is also pronounced EGO.
I saw one in my yard in Southern Coastal Maine a few days ago...so thrilled! We have several old trees in our yard that I treasure and being on the water they discourage cutting them down. Only the 2nd time in my 71 years that I have seen one.
@@landers3700 they are truly impressive birds!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge of this bird with us, Mr. McKellar. My wife and I live behind a creek in North Central Arkansas where we have many tall Sweetgum and Sycamore Trees. Two of the Sycamore trees have holes that have been used by the Pileated Woodpeckers in the past. One year we had Wood Ducks have a brood of ducklings. We couldn't hardly believe it, but the little ducks jumped every bit of 35-40 feet from the hole where they nested, hit the ground, bounced and ran to the edge of the yard where they proceeded to follow mama duck. :) Anyway, the bit of information about the birds liking peanuts will come in handy. I will build a platform feeder and and see what happens. By the way, I have also seen the Pileated Woodpeckers feed on Sumac, Carolina Buckthorne and Poison Ivy Berries.
Native berries are so important for birds, especially in the fall and early winter.
I live just south of Atlanta. We live on three wooded acres. I hear these guys daily. Ive only ever seen them a handful of times though.
They are shy birds. Such a pleasure to see when you get a glimpse.
Coincidentally I had one of these visit one of the feeders that was out that was originally meant with bluebirds ( it was a mealworm suet feeder that had perches and it was hanging on a wooden post) and it visited easter Sunday and it was also the first time I’ve seen one visit a feeder in real life
They are awesome birds.
Vancouver BC area, backyard backs onto greenbelt, large (100+ foot) Douglas Firs and Cedars. We have the tail prop suet feeder and have had a family of pileated woodpeckers visiting for years.
This year the parents brought their young birds (male and female) first to the trees behind the house to bring them suet. Then later onto the feeder to feed them. And then just keeping them company while they fed themselves.
The only problem we have is keeping the Stellar Jays off the suet as they will eat until none is left. But the pileated woodpeckers are good at announcing their arrival so we can put the suet out for them.
We don't have to deal with Steller's Jays. It is interesting that our Blue Jays don't bother suet at all. The Pileateds certainly can run them off but I guess the issue is the times that they are away from the feeder that the jays empty it. Good luck.
@@MarksBackyardBirds I don't mind if they eat some of the suet, but they pass a message onto a local flock and all of a sudden a half dozen stellars are there until no suet is left.
We also get a family of Flickers and a family of Downies. Occasionally a Hairy. They are very active when the young are fledging and parents teach them how to land on the suet feeder and feed from it.
Word spreads fast when free food becomes available.
I'm so glad I've found your channel! I live in swfl and have started feeding my neighborhood birds and photographing them. I have red bellied woodpeckers that stop by. Every morning I hear the paleated drilling wood. But havent seen him yet.
Welcome to the channel. I will in SE Florida in the near future. Looking forward to the birds.
We have resided in our house for 48 years. We live very close to parks and woods. The first time I ever heard of or saw this woodpecker was probably three years ago. I did notice It came to our tree what seemed to be breakfast lunch and supper. It is a dogwood. We had 10 blue spruce cutdown because they all got exposed to something and died. We left the trunks about two or three feet so i can put flower pots on them. All of a sudden I noticed the pileated woodpecker pecking on the trunks. I am now retired so I am able to to see more birds. Since it is december, Iill watch more carefully for the pileated. Since last year I saw a big owl in another tree in our yard close to my dogwood. Thank you for sharing this with us.
I'm new to birds and by no means an expert but I'm pretty sure I remember reading in my books that they do have different crests. I read that the female red crest does not come all the way down the forehead like the male but stops short and turns to black.
You are correct, I'm usually seeing these birds from underneath and have generally used the malar stripe to separate male from female.
Place a pile of cut logs in your yard. That's a reliable lure as they hunt for larvae.
One of their names is "stump thumpers"!
Oh. Thank You
I've been trying to locate a source to purchase beef kidney suet which is commonly offered in the freezer section in the supermarket in the midwest. Here in the east, it cannot be purchased at all! I live in the suburbs of Philadelphia. But I also have a trailer in New Jersey. Both areas have many farming communities. But for some reason, fresh unrendered suet is not offered here for purchase. I was told at supermarkets that their beef comes to them already trimmed, so they do not have it to offer for sale. In MN my Aunt lived near Minneapolis and had Pileated Woodpeckers coming to her yard for the unrendered suet she put out in a cage feeder. She moved 150 miles north to Duluth, and within a month or two had Pileated Woodpeckers coming to her yard for the unrendered suet. She also offers suet cakes, but the Pileated Woodpecker seems to prefer the raw suet. Why can't the rest of the country have this product?
Unfortunately, the small independent "meat markets" are disappearing. My guess is there is one or two left in your area it is just going to take some serious looking. Older sections of larger towns are likely locations. Areas that the big box stores haven't moved in and run little guys out of business. Good luck! BTW, I love northern Minnesota.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Thanks for answering. I'll keep looking. :)
I have a pair that nest close to my house my property boarders some US forestry land. I understand they have large home territories.
You hit the nail on the head with your opening remarks. Saw a pileated for the first time a couple of months ago when I moved to our new home and it has spurned a birding obsession! My pair comes to my suet several days a month, and its always exciting. Thanks for the videos!
Thanks for the education about the suet feeder with the tail rest I think I’ll make one!! The cackle they have that you spoke of. I believe is often used in tropical movies even though is it, Northwoods Bird!! Also there flight in the air is quite different than any other bird. They kind of pump pump and sink pump pump and sink.Theres a descent habitat here in Northern Wisconsin
I love them, but. They are in my range but not so common, do you still think they will come?
They are highly unpredictable birds. I sure hope so.
In Arkansas I seen in the mid 80's bigger than the Pileated. Everyone I knew said they were extinct, do not exist. I wrote on my post card. did sketches THEY sound like an enormous NUTHATCH. They stayed mainly in the lower levels. In the OLD FOREST of the OZARKS. Farmer from Texas cut so many of the trees on the other side of my property, and after that when there was a terrible Ice storm with about 4 in thick of ice. on everything. They left. Others then also seen them. But people did not like having strangers coming and trampling through trying to find them. (Ginseng) So not much was mentioned. anymore. So say they had been seen rarely in other lower states, but the word is somewhat hush hush.
That is incredible. I truly want sh I could have seen one.
I thought thought the female with a black crest was like some that are born like some birds that are Albino. Only problem they are big. In the Reader's Digest book on American birds show the Ivory seen in Florida, Mississippi Louisiana Alabama and Georgia lower parts,. People I had known, said they do not want strangers to know, to upset them. Some worry with developers, and so many migrants coming through will upset the Ivory. But say the ones they had seen and heard are mainly in the Bayous, Swamp area. Some say they seen them in Florida, but when the swamp waters were drained , causing so much disruption to so many birds. It was hard for a comeback, and had not seen or heard the Ivory. MOVIE "PELICAN BRIEF ", explained what was happened, and why the swamp waters were drained Pretty good movie. I just might watch it again. .Hope you get to see one. A sight I will never forget. Sold my land for 8,000 knew the buyer, and I know I could have gotten 56 thousand. But I live in WI. and when someone stolen everything to even maintain the land. I wanted to not wait years for it to be sold.@@MarksBackyardBirds
Yes, and we have pterodactyls in my woods but we keep silent to knot attract the vest makers.
Honey roasted peanuts they love.
It’s impossible! I saw one in my backyard less than two weeks ago , so I put a suet and two more bird feeders with good that they like , but blue jays and those black big birds have invaded our backyard , I can’t stand them , they are so mean with the small birds and like bullies . Plus they come in groups of 15
That is sad. The starlings and grackle can be very aggressive and annoying
They are a beautiful and fascinating prehistoric animal, i can not ommit to lamment the responsibility of united statians for exterminating its cousin species the ivory billed woodpecker. All because of victorian hat feathers, systematic lumbering, and stupid plain shooting by united statians. As a non american i am angry that you deprived the world of this bird, that belonged to all of us and that you made extinct.
Unfortunately, just one one many species that have met the same fate for similar reasons around the planet.
@@MarksBackyardBirds Not a good excuse. In other countries extinctions of large animals date back to savage times before recorded history maybe usa is comparable.
Loss of habitat is by far the number reason for extinction
@@MarksBackyardBirds Which points to the massive coast to coast irresponsible lumbering activity of the usa in the 19th and first half of the 20th century, on a scale that the world had never seen. Stripping all old-growth forests systematically. This was before the concept of national parks was adopted. Usa was a rogue country run by bandits who stripped earth ressources that belonged to all humanity, not them. But let's not play hypocrite, bird shooting was a united statian passtime. It was considered a 'sport', the history on it is recorded and carries a direct guilt as to the extermination of other native birds too like the North Carolina parakeet and the passengers pigeons the latter who existed in flocks by the hundred of millions.
USA! USA! USA! That's right.