Pileated Woodpecker on a tree

Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

The largest woodpecker in most of North America.

Size

40-49 cm

Wingspan

66-75 cm

Weight

250-350 g

Lifespan

5-9 years in the wild

Conservation

Least Concern

Identification

Large woodpecker with black body, white stripes on face, and bright red crest.

Habitat

Mature forests with large, dead trees.

Diet

Carpenter ants, beetles, other insects, and occasionally fruits and nuts.

Behavior

Excavates large rectangular holes in dead trees in search of insects.

Distribution

North America, primarily in forests.

Description

The Pileated Woodpecker is a striking black-and-white bird with a bright red crest. It is known for its distinctive rectangular holes in trees.