Listen to the Pileated Woodpecker Call!
Can you identify the call of the pileated woodpecker? Listen and learn about this woodland bird.
The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America (after the ivory-billed woodpecker, which is presumed to be extinct). These birds can reach up to 19 inches from tail to tip and sport a wingspan of up to 30 inches!
The pileated woodpecker gets its name from the bright-red crest on its head. 鈥淧ileated,鈥 which comes from the Latin word for 鈥-capped,鈥 ultimately stems from a type of Ancient Greek hat known as a pilos (pileus in Latin).
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In late winter, the male pileated woodpecker prepares for the upcoming nesting season, which typically starts in April. Using his incredible bill, he hammers out a nesting area in a dead tree and hopes to attract a mate. Once paired, pileated woodpeckers usually hang around their territory throughout the year, defending it from interlopers. Amazingly, they do not reuse their nests from year to year, which makes the hollow an attractive home for other forest dwellers such as raccoons and owls.
Have you heard a pileated woodpecker in the wild? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you鈥檝e heard this bird sound before!
Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds! Bird sounds compliments of
Heidi Stonehill
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I heard a pileated woodpecker pecking on my siding above my bedroom windows twice at 1:30 am. I saw where he had pecked. His pecking was so loud! I live in Indianapolis in in a retirement village.
I have seen them for a couple of years now, in Norther Upper peninsula of Mi, they stay all winter, just saw four of them couple of weeks ago, in the snow, they like the utility pole outside of my house, did not have my camera handy. but heard them call several times, four on one pole would have made a great picture.
I have a pair that has resided for several years in my backyard that is adjacent to an old oak and pine forest. Lots of trees for hollowing out! They have even visited the suet cakes on occasion. On the coast in Southport, NC.
I have them all year! Every time the "call" it makes me smile and remember the woody woodpecker cartoons I watched when a child!! Bradford NH
Two are regular visitors on our acreage which is near the air port in Prince George British Columbia. They love the suet provided and yes hammer away at trees, beautiful birds, seen them completely destroy stumps going after ants. Been a great winter for woodpeckers and other birds.
I live in western North Carolina...the mountains. The first time I heard one I thought someone had lost their tropical bird. Its call is so loud and sounded just like something out of a jungle.
We live in Frederick County Virginia, a little north of Winchester near the West Virginia border. We have about 7 Acres, most of it wooded. WE have several piliated. They come to our front porch suet feeder in the winter. So beautiful to see. We have found numerous rectangular holes in our trees.
I have a house at Bryce Resort in northwestern Virginia. We have pileated woodpeckers (at least one pair). In 2020, I spent a lot of time at our cabin in May. At dawn and dusk, I would hear their calls, but didn't see a bird. The call is a bit spooky.
Anyhow, on a warm day, one of the birds perched on a branch above my head and began calling. It scared me to death...until I saw the bird. Now the call is just interesting. They call more frequently in the spring. The rest of the year, it is mostly at dawn and dusk and appears to be letting each other know where they are.
Many years ago, it just happened that my husband and I were outside on a Saturday and watched a Pileated woodpecker pecking large chunks out of our neighbor's tree trunk, close to the ground. Later that afternoon the neighbor came out and mentioned to my husband that our boys had been destroying his tree and he wanted it to stop! My husband was able to honestly say that his problem was not our boys! Haha.
We have a Pileated Woodpecker, here in Lost Bridge Village, AR that comes every day to our suet cakes & we have named him Jack because he jackhammers the suet cakes like they are wood. Lately he's been eating them the "Bird Way" instead of taking his beak & drilling. He is just huge, about the size of an African Grey. He is just beautiful.
