Pileated Woodpecker

A Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, crow-sized woodpecker native to North America. It is the largest woodpecker in the United States and is known for its striking black-and-white plumage and a prominent, fiery-red crest.

The Pileated Woodpecker has a robust body and a long neck. Its body is mostly black, with a white line running from its face down its neck. The most distinctive feature is its brilliant red crest that sweeps back from its forehead. Males have an additional red stripe, or "mustache," from the beak to the throat, while females have a black one.

Pileated Woodpeckers are found in mature forests with large, dead trees, particularly in the eastern United States and parts of Canada. They are known for excavating large, rectangular holes in trees as they forage for food. Their diet consists primarily of carpenter ants, but they will also eat other insects, fruits, and nuts.

This woodpecker is known for its loud, resonant drumming sound, which can be heard from a long distance. The drumming serves to attract a mate and to mark territory. They create distinctive, rectangular holes in trees as they search for insects, and these holes are often used as nesting sites by other birds and mammals.