The PILEATED WOODPECKER | The LARGEST Woodpecker in North America!

In this video learn some cool facts about the Pileated Woodpeckers like things they like to eat, where to find one, things you can do if they are damaging your home, and even how to pronounce Pileated.
Timestamps:
00:00 How to pronounce Pileated Woodpecker
01:26 Where to find a Pileated Woodpecker
02:02 What does a Pileated Woodpecker look like
02:41 Pileated Woodpecker name
02:52 Pileated Woodpecker male and female differences
03:10 Why are most woodpeckers black and white
04:02 Pileated Woodpecker drumming and calling
04:25 Pileated Woodpecker breeding (nesting habits)
05:30 How to find a Pileated Woodpecker
05:30 Breeding and Nesting continued (Pileated Woodpecker nestlings)
06:42 What do Pileated Woodpeckers like to eat
07:10 Pileated Woodpecker drilling for food
07:33 Pileated Woodpecker drumming
07:45 How to attract a Pileated Woodpecker to your backyard feeder
08:00 How to stop a Woodpecker from damaging your home
09:29 Closing thoughts
Why do woodpeckers like to hammer on houses and what can I do about it
www.allaboutbirds.org/news/wh...
Video Credits (A-Z):
Anthony Leaterwood
/ @anthonyleatherwood
BirdNerd
/ @birdnerd5631
Bellistic Films Mike and Michele Bell
/ bellisticfilms
Fred Woltman
/ fwoltman
JJD Photography
www.jjdphotography.store/
/ jjdphotography_li
Marlene Trott
Instagram @tiny_n8ture
MyDailyNature
/ @mydailynature
Ovenbirder98
/ @ovenbirder
miottawa.org/Parks/birding.htm
Rich Downs
www.flickr.com/photos/rich_do...
/ whiteterncitizenscience
Shelby Bandt (Homeschooling the Herd)
homeschoolblogger.com/homesch...
Sophie's Backyard Wildlife
/ @sophiesbackyardwildlife
The Bird Perch
/ thebirdperch
Carol Rosalind
Samantha Michelle (Ginter)
Jake Denton
Joe Roulaine
Sara Hart
Kaustubh Patwardhan
Neil Barker
Photo Credits (A-Z):
Bob Carlyle
bobcarlylephotography.ca/
/ bob.carlyle
Greg Froude
www.flickr.com/photos/6931775...
Rich Downs
www.flickr.com/photos/rich_do...
/ whiteterncitizenscience
Allan Dawson
Kim Bennett
Thumbnail: Photo portion of Pileated Woodpecker only Image by Canon_Bob via canva.com/pro
The background was removed from original
Music and Audio
Music
Ending Song "Campfire"
Artist Delicate Steve via KZbin audio library
If you have a sick or injured bird in your possession I can not help this bird in any way it is strongly advised to contact a local vet or wildlife official before any decisions are made. It is very easy to do more harm than good when handling any wildlife.
For business inquiries or Post Office Box information
please contact Jamie at [e-mail]
#LesleytheBirdNerd #PileatedWoodpecker #Birds #BirdWatching

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

If you enjoyed the video please check out the description and find all the people who helped make it possible and have a look at their pages. Liking, Leaving a comment, or sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, etc. helps out KZbin channels in a HUGE way. From myself and my bird buddies, thank you ALL for watching. It's greatly appreciated!

[@nelsonthibeau3303]

Just love your vids, and want you to know i was lucky enough to see a pileated with luscis( i think thats the condition )all white no pigmentation and me without a camera

[@Mr.Pennington]

Can i tell you about the time i saw a ivorybill?

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

@@nelsonthibeau3303 hey thank you. So glad you enjoy them. And that is so cool about you seeing one with the leucistic condition. Too bad about not having a camera. I know all too well what that's like. I've yet to see a bird with leucism.

[@lesliemoiseauthor]

I enjoyed hearing about and seeing their mating dance.

[@glubglub6090]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd n 2014 i actually was lucky enough to see an ivorybill 3 times in lee florida male, flying by wooded area prominent dorsal stripes and a patch white on the outer area of secondary feathers up to a few primary feathers, could not determine size, clearly not a pileated, bill color undetermined, was not able to estimate size, but larger than a pileated, without a doubt an ivory bill

[@mjinba07]

Most of your viewers may not know about the cartoon or remember it, but the Pileated served as a template for the appearance and the laugh of Woody Woodpecker. It was popular back in the day. Even has a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame.

[@todddavis4274]

Huh huh huh huhhuh. Woody was so cool.

[@seabertotter4325]

@@todddavis4274 Charlie Parker had an effect on Woody Woodpecker.

[@todddavis4274]

@@seabertotter4325 The jazz guy? I wonder how.

[@fgb3126]

@@seabertotter4325 effect or affect

[@seabertotter4325]

@@fgb3126 funny you should say as I thought the same thing. But they both work. But Woody's little melodic motif was a Bird cliche.'

[@StreakingTiger]

I'm almost 71 years old, and saw my first Pileated Woodpecker in my back yard only 2-3 weeks ago. He was pecking at the base of an old stump. Amazing creature IMO. That was a treat to experience that.

[@typoclerk]

Cool.. they are huge eh? .. the Downy Woodpecker (most common) is a dwarf in comparison.

[@joeyjohnson4826]

Lol they are pretty cool... always took them for granted, so many of them in the florida woods, grandma called them pecker woods 🤣

[@fighttoprovemylove3342]

Hey, I live in Georgia and I have one that visits my backyard on the regular! It is huge. I have photos and pics of it. I love it, reminds me of my younger days

[@seabertotter4325]

I've seen one peck an old stump into nothing.

[@chuckgates1171]

Im 55 and 1st seen one maybe 6 months ago in the huge oak tree in back yard and seen one few weeks ago same tree.

[@mkmom8473]

There is one outside my window right now. I love their call. I used to think it was squirrels screeching. Now when I hear that call I run to the window and it is usually either at one of my bird feeders or on the tree next to them. ❤ We live in northern Michigan and have four types of woodpeckers come to our feeders - Pileated, Red bellied, Hairy, and Downy. I love it!

[@63artemisia63]

@ mk mom Wow 💕❤️💕

[@dh0well]

yay, a fellow Michigander! I love watching those 4 woodpeckers at our feeders too. It's just too bad I never see a Red-headed Woodpecker around here. Only rarely have I ever seen one in N. MI (twice that I can think of, both times near Grayling)

[@donnaroberts9119]

Lucky pup

[@stormwatcher59]

I'm in central Pennsylvania and get a few Red bellied, Hairy, and Downy...but never these guys

[@jonnydanger7181]

I have one in northern Wisconsin 😃

[@johannamarsh8464]

I retired at age 65. I have always been a birdlover and watcher. I am now 70 and last year was my first time seeing this bird. I could not believe my eyes. To me it was a miracle! LOL. It was alone. Hopefully the mate was close by. We live close to a wooded area. I hear the pecking but dont see it. I had ten pines recently die from an infestation. We had the trees cut down but left about one foot of the tree stumps for flower pots. Last summer, when I first discovered this bird it was pecking on these trunks for bugs. I initially saw this bird pecking on the trunk of my dogwood tree. The first time I saw it I ran for my camera. It came back shortly after and I got some great pictures! When I was a child I was in the woods constantly playing. I heard their pecking but never saw one. ❤️

[@loulou-zd1dz]

I saw one on the suet feeder.

[@sandradanforth8524]

What state do you live in? 😊

[@slk1451]

We live in NE OK and have 40 acres that we keep natural as woods and there is a pileated woodpecker that lives in there. My husband and I go on evening dates in the side by side and watch the birds and the wildlife. After a long day of farming it’s a real stress reliever. In the summer, when the lightening bugs come out and it’s almost dark, it’s like a different planet.

[@WhistlesToAnimals]

So awesome. For some reason I checked out a celebrity's home, and that person didn't share one square inch with wlldlife. And I have a tiny yard and I gave / share it all with them.

[@slk1451]

Whistles to Animals if I had a good camera I would share but taking pictures and video with my phone doesn’t yield the best photos.

[@stevehorn646]

Im a Canadian and went Conners State college. Small world

[@slk1451]

Steve Horn that’s funny I went to NEO and we knew a Steve that was a baseball player and from 🇨🇦. I was a horse judger and knew some Conners kids.

[@amandawilcox9638]

Red bud, That sounds lovely and utterly wonderful.

[@brianolson2171]

I once lived in a house that had a wood stove with a rusted chimney pipe that a male pileated used to drum on. The first time I heard it I thought that someone was running a jackhammer in my house

[@lairdhaynes1986]

Reminds me of a northern flicker who would beat on the gutter at 7am on a Saturday morning. Talk about a rude awakening.

[@emileeweir7773]

@@lairdhaynes1986 We get the Flicker drumming on our siding as well. We call him dad's frienemy. Dad's nemesis is the Belted Kingfisher - he hardly ever gets pics without the bird teasing him and flying off, yet I can get dozens of pics (and have a series of photos of the bird smacking around/eating a fish!).

[@lairdhaynes1986]

@@emileeweir7773 Haha! Poor pops. We have kingfishers around the lake by my house. I don't even try to get pics as I can't get anywhere close enough without them flying away. I have to content myself with watching them from a distance.

[@foxlake6750]

We had one that use to hammer on our satellite dish, very proud of the load noise it was making.

[@gaylebynumcardosa7034]

I heard drumming just two days ago. It was VERY loud and I couldn't believe it wasn't being made by a machine. I followed the sound and sure enough, it was a woodpecker high up in a tree. I'd never seen one before. I live in a fairly wooded area and never really paid that much attention to all the sounds of nature before. Now I have heard that same drumming noise several times throughout the woods. It may be that there are several woodpeckers out there and I've never really noticed it before. It's interesting what you hear when you pay attention.

[@marciawilson3664]

Love these guys! I’d never seen one until we moved to Georgia. He was tearing up our fence and giving us the evil eye. He was sporting a red Mohawk and absolutely gorgeous!!

[@Godwinpounds4333]

Hello how are you doing?

[@CapnWack]

Red headed cockatoo

[@frenchiefrie3128]

I go to college out of state, my dad and I give updates to each other as to what birds we see. He sent me a video of a pileated woodpecker the other day. Since I'm in always in class and studying, I don't get to see too many birds. Thank you for making these videos, they're really helping me get through a hard semester!!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

I'm really happy that these videos help. All the best to you! Take care

[@fighttoprovemylove3342]

@@LesleytheBirdNerd I have one that visits my back on the regular. It is huge, I have a video and pics of it.

[@timeallen6900]

Birds are joyful creatures and it’s a pleasure having them around. I keep three bird feeders out for them and six suet cakes. I also keep out four hummingbird feeders and they always come get me when their feeders are low by hovering right in front of my face.

[@MM-rr1kp]

i had one in the yard last year. couldnt believe how huge. very long

[@mrsdomino4196]

One year we had two females show up with twins. We went through 4 suet cakes a day. The longer I watch your videos I realize how blessed we are. We have them daily. As impressive as their beaks are...so are their feet and I love how they “laugh”. Thank you.

[@appleslorri2012]

I can’t get them to eat at the feeders, they’ll checkout all the trees but won’t come to the suet feeders or sunflower seeds

[@stickshaker101]

They eat that much, huh? I was trying to figure out if the squirrels were getting them when I wasn't looking!

[@mikesr3407]

I didn't know that they love suet cakes , I will have to set them up some ! Have to put up high neighbors cat loves to hunt our yard ! Great for ground patrol but not good for birds !

[@mariashaffer-gordon3561]

@@mikesr3407 My impression is that all, or almost all, woodpeckers like suet. It's a good, high calorie food source, especially in the winter.

[@linda6987]

Very lucky! I’m jealous!

[@lancer234567]

I grew up with pileated woodpeckers in my huge nature area in my backyard in Louisiana along the Amite River. I have always been amazed by these wonderful birds. I used to wake up every morning and see them all around the big oaks and hickories and pines and beeches down by the river. Thank you for your lovely video. We also had many other kinds of woodpeckers including red-headed woodpeckers and my grandfather claims he saw an ivory billed woodpecker back in the old days.

[@dennissmith1699]

The world needs more wonderful people like you, doing what you do. You build up without tearing down. When you are finished with your art and publish it the world moves to a better place. Thank you for sharing yourself the way you do. I enjoy your art totally! I shared this video with two good buddies as we were having the debate on pronunciation of Pileated!

[@littleskipper743]

I loved their little dance they do to attract a mate

[@valdivia1234567]

I'm really fortunate to have these on my property on a regular basis. I never get tired of seeing them.

[@timeallen6900]

Never gets old

[@timsilva1944]

It gets old when they're pecking on your house. Fortunately, I've convinced them to find other wood to drill into.

[@diamondsngunns88]

Thank you so much Lesley for advocating for a gentle and compassionate approach when dealing with all animals. You see them for who they truly are, our brothers and sisters moving through the world the best way they know how, just like us. Kindness and compassion are free, and there’s always a more loving way to approach ‘challenges’ that wild animals might present. Bless you and bless all those with a gentle heart. ❤🙏🥰

[@chickadeecentral]

Exactly. When dealing with animals, being compassionate and gentle with them is 100% the right thing to do. And you are right about always having a loving way to approach animals in the wild 💙👍🙏

[@janoldland8265]

I'm a 79 year old Widower living on a mountain near Martinsburg WV. I'm so blessed to have a pair of these Pileated Woodpeckers near my home. They are awesome. Thanks for your work.👍👍💐

[@gourddrawing]

The fact you shared about pileateds abandoning their homes when finished each year and other animals utilizing them was fascinating. Nature's little home construction crew!

[@dbmail545]

Got one on my property. I did not know that they make a new nesting cavity every year.

[@rhodawatkins4516]

There's a tree on our property that I always refer to as "the woodpecker tree" because as I was walking our trail some years ago, I saw a pileated poke its head out. Didn't realize they probably haven't nested there since. I bet a lot of other birds or other creatures have though.

[@staciesheppard2048]

I think this is what my dad used to call a Goodgod. As in, "Good God, look at that woodpecker!"

[@deirdre108]

Interesting! The Ivory Billed Woodpecker that Lesley mentioned was probably extinct was often called the lord god bird for the same reason!

[@hokep61]

My Grandpa also always called them "Good Gods".

[@franks4973]

We have pileated woodpeckers, they are 1 of my favorites. They look so primeval

[@lizzieb6311]

Yes! Their heads look like an anvil! There are several in the wooded area behind my home in Florida. They are enormous! Meanwhile I have adorable wee Downey Woodpeckers that visit my suet feeder in the front yard.

[@ganymeade5151]

Big handsome birds. Their red colors are spectacular when illuminated by the sun. Love.

[@vickibowen5617]

Oh my. Don't you just LOVE the Pileated Woodpecker?!?? Thank you so much, Lesley, am indeed grateful ♥️♥️♥️‼️‼️‼️

[@iNuchalHead]

Had no idea about the pronunciation. Always said PILL-e-8-ed. I love these guys so much. Their call is magical. Almost like a kookaburra.

[@lairdhaynes1986]

You're not the only one. I've always heard and said pill-e-8-ed too.

[@todddavis4274]

Pill-e-8-ed for me to! I'm from middle TN. I love them.

[@todddavis4274]

Yes!

[@garylyons8811]

They are called Indian hens in Louisiana where I live and their is a lot of them

[@currentriver4951]

I agree, something to that call!!!

[@operator8470]

I install headstones all over Kansas and I see woodpeckers all the time. They are a joy!

[@ndbyers23]

When I heard my first Pilated woodpecker, I was thrilled to observe a pair for over an hour searching for the best place to raise their brood. They drilled 2 holes in a large deciduous tree about 5 feet from our screened porch. I saw them fly around the neighborhood looking and looking. Sadly, they did not choose my tree and I did not see them again. It was such a thrill! I will never forget it. I didn’t know that they mated for life. Yes another beautiful fact about this amazing and beautiful bird. I was living in Georgia at this time, about 20 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Thank you for another lovely video. I am very grateful that I recently came across your channel. 😮

[@georgesakellaropoulos8162]

I was once treated to the sight of a pair of these beautiful birds feeding on Carpenter Ants no more than 6 feet above me while walking back to my car after a day of trout fishing. I watched for at least 20 minutes while they very delicately picked off the ants one by one. They gave every sign that they were aware of my presence, but didn't seem to be bothered in the least. I caught enough fish for supper, but this was the best part of my day.

[@timeallen6900]

Birds have that effect on us. I love to watch the little brown bats that come out in the evening.

[@arnonteerling8855]

Cool

[@sansabasongbird5130]

The Romans wore red woolen caps in winter called a pileus. Thus the name.

[@rickyates1054]

And the Roman caps name was Pye lee us, not pill ee us.

[@thomascharky7031]

@@rickyates1054 Wouldnt it probably have been pee-lé-ūs?

[@rickyates1054]

@@thomascharky7031 no,because the letter I says it's own name or it sounds like . Pit sit mitt Never says ee .That is why there is a letter E . Pelius . Grade 1 english

[@Straight0uttaCrofton]

i thought it was named after Pontius Pilate

[@johnnyk434]

GIGGITY, thanks for that bit...

[@SequoiaRaven]

I love them. Birds in general are amazing. Did you know that all Woodpeckers have tounges that rap around their brain to hold them in place and prevent braindamage while they peck? Awesome creatures!! Great video, thank you for including the pronunciation.

[@maevefarley1181]

Yes! Woody the Woodpecker! Majestic.

[@soccovitch]

Thank you for all the work that you put in on these videos. They really have been a life saver for my Mom who has dementia. She has very nervous energy in the evening and nothing really can calm her down except your videos. Man, she really enjoys your calm commentary and all the information. It truly is amazing to see her sense of calm and focus when the videos are on. Thank you!

[@diamondsngunns88]

This is so beautiful. I’m so glad you found something that helped calm her and distract her. Caregiving for a loved one with dementia is very very difficult. I pray you’re caring for yourself as well ❤❤❤

[@chickensalad3535]

How I your mom?

[@mechele4848]

My Favorite bird! Everything about them Amazes me❗

[@s1nd3r3llee]

Hi Lesley! My husband and I are so excited to find one or more Pileated woodpeckers are now living in the forest near our suburban NC home! We walk early in the mornings, and have recently heard then calling in the forest. So beautiful! My husband saw one today, 9/1/22. Thank You, Lesley for sharing your Bird knowledge with us! Love it! You’re the Best! 😄❤️

[@bearvonsteuben9675]

Lesley! I have enjoyed so many of your videos, and I’ve been fascinated by these Pileated chaps for years! Three days ago, after hearing their drumming in my woods for so long but having never spotted one, I happened to look up at just the right moment in time to watch one flying toward me not 20’ over my head. Such an odd duck, if you will, as compared to the rest of the woodpecker world, but to finally see one a-flight made my day! I truly appreciate all that you do for our feathered friends, and can’t thank you enough. 🤗👏

[@joseenoel8093]

I think they're a sign of good luck! "Birds won't get upset!" ha ha ha ha! Thanks, good one!

[@christine9467]

Good because I need some good luck right about now in these crazy times. I saw one today.

[@dbmail545]

You won't consider them good luck if they go after carpenter bees in your house's soffits. They can do some damage!

[@bobbyb322]

I have these on my property and nothing is so soothing as to hear them calling for a mate banging on the trees

[@apophisxo4480]

I'm a huge fan!!! The Pileateds are a bit elusive...I hear them, but they are hard to photograph. Keep up the awesome videos. You're the best!!!

[@williamjones3462]

I once had a piliated land on the screen of our bathroom window. I watched it for approximately 10 min before it departed. Beautiful.

[@patrickhowell5382]

I am living in Jamaica and the woodpecker came just as I had cut branches from a almond tree. I didn't know what kind of birds they were but after sending the video to few friends, the name was disclosed. The tree had a lot of red ants but they are now pecking the mesh of the window. The bird wake me up each morning. They are such amazing birds and I love watching them. They are also hard workers. Thanks for the information Lesley.

[@moonlight_mylk]

Just recently discovered these exist. Saw one in BC and was amazed at how large they are, the strange sounds they make (slightly tropical?), and how weirdly prehistoric they look. Truly some incredible creatures.

[@rickyates1054]

Yes. I've seen two near ubc forest. But never in coquitlam ,where I grew up.

[@mariashaffer-gordon3561]

Those were my thoughts, too, the first time I saw one.

[@OspreyFlyer]

I hear them out in the forests where I bird. Yeah, I said that also, sounds like a tropical jungle bird, lol.

[@63artemisia63]

@ c They actually don’t look “weirdly” prehistoric; they look logically prehistoric, I guess you could say, because they evolved from flying dinosaurs like pterodactyls, and they (and all birds) have changed very little since the Cretaceous period aka “the age of dinosaurs.” I believe the major difference is that they now have feathers … and are much smaller, of course ;o) But I could be wrong about that, and maybe even all of it. So, don’t quote me without checking first.

[@OspreyFlyer]

@@63artemisia63 Showing their heritage, lol.

[@mikeclarke952]

Does anyone remember Woody the Woodpecker? That cartoon portrayed him as a little trouble and racket maker and being 5, I always thought, "How strange to be so angry at a little bird". Maybe not so far off if they start damaging your home. I've seen a few around on campus but never in our backyard. Great footage Lesley, thanks.

[@BrendanPJames]

I live in northern NJ. My family’s backyard is in a wooded park with a lot of dead trees, so I’m lucky enough to see them all the time. I remember first seeing them as a kid and being so impressed because I didn’t think of woodpeckers as being so big and loud

[@monicakander7999]

Thank you for all of your beautiful and informative videos! ❤️

[@jer3887]

They're all over the place in Florida. Their call is very easy to spot as well as the wood pecking. Dead trees certainly seem to attract them.... Don't always want to cut them down :)

[@valdivia1234567]

Yeah they love carpenter ants I think. That's why they're in dead trees so much.

[@tommurphree5630]

Cub

[@reverie6034]

When we moved to Florida We have tons of these in our yard and their laughing call was so crazy! It was the first bird I looked up. 😂. I love them.

[@joannleichliter4308]

Saw one of these in upstate New York a couple of years ago. I was thrilled.

[@JulieannsSerenity]

Really love hearing about the mating and how they raise their young. What a cute dace he did! Ad so sweet that they mate for life! Thank you for such amazing content! It’s very much appreciated! ❤

[@BearInTheWoods931]

I’ve had some at my bird feeder. Up to that point, I never imagined such a large woodpecker existed. Great to have around.

[@RBTrujillo1]

"other woodpecker shenanigans" that is so cute of a statement!

[@Percival3Smithers]

I like the flight call of the male "Auwww-yauh Auww-yauh" ; it sounds like some jungle sound in a movie.

[@prayerworks11]

It took me awhile to figure out what bird did that call. I thought it was topical. Lol

[@beaupeep]

@@prayerworks11 Same here!

[@jeremyblackwater439]

It really does. I hear it almost every morning. I’m sitting here at this very moment with the culprit about 20 yards away putting in work on a tree

[@jeremyblackwater439]

Never mind just saw there’s two. They appear to be mates

[@sandradanforth8524]

When living on the west coast,a wood pecker came every Spring and drummed on our street signs. Every year. 😊

[@Road_Rash]

I have these things fly through my yard all the time...amazing birds...

[@MarioLorenzo]

For me, when I lived in Virginia, seeing a pileated woodpecker was a special event like seeing a falling star or seeing someone famous. They seemed to me to as one of the most mysterious behaving and interesting looking birds. I used to seldom (unfortunately) see them pecking for insects at the base of rotting trees near my home.

[@Famjules79]

Saw one of these in my parent's backyard a couple weeks ago. So I've now seen downy, hairy, red belly, northern flicker, and pileated woodpeckers. Fun to watch.

[@debrathornley2974]

Thanks for putting this together!

[@sungoddiss]

Thank you for this. I enjoyed learning that their rapid loud drumming meant a warning or attracting a mate. I always thought it was just the sound of them boring into the woods to look for bugs.

[@Afterburner1477]

One of these started visiting my suet feeders!! So big!!! Every time it comes I just stare at it’s huge head and body!!! And the call is so distinct!! Excited for your video!!!!!

[@joanrubin4873]

I saw my first pileated woodpecker this morning at our home in Plymouth Vermont. I never appreciated until today how HUGE they are. Stunning

[@robertmueller2023]

Coolest bird sighting of my life! I was making breakfast one morning and I looked out my window in north-central Idaho to espy one of these guys on my pear tree.

[@InLawsAttic]

I LOVE pleated woodpeckers!! Had one come back year after year to a HUGE pine tree right next to our garage- we enjoyed him- or her- so much!!

[@easygoing2479]

Just gotta say that this video is one of the nicest ones I've seen in a while. Great videography (with the contributions of fellow birders) and a very smooth narration - informative and pleasant listening! Soon LesleytheBirdNerd will be right up there with “Daily Dose of Internet” in devotees!

[@theteenagegardener]

These things are EVERYWHERE in our nearby hardwood forest by the lake. I went camping with my dad once, and heard them across the lake calling. They sound so cool.

[@outdoorztime2923]

I have these beautiful birds in my front yard. We live behind a creek in a simi-wooded area. One thing I've noticed the Pileated Woodpeckers feeding on once or twice are Carolina Buckthorn berries. With our warm winter this year, I actually planted some Sumac on Christmas Day. I have seen them feed on these out while taking country rides where I like to deer hunt.

[@kevinesterline622]

Pileated woodpeckers are in my backyard every morning. I remember when they were a rare site or sound. You had to go into the woods then. And if you were lucky you would see or hear one. Very different kind of bird. Awesome to watch and ez to hear.

[@joelhenderson4450]

When they’re hammering on your steel chimney liner, they’re just saying “Get up, ye lazy blighter! Day’s a-wasting!”

[@todddavis4274]

OMG I seen a video about that. Talk about loud!

[@beaupeep]

lol, several years ago I had that happen - at about 6am every morning!! It didn't take me long to get my husband up there to wrap some chicken wire around that liner sticking up! Now he uses the gutter around my carport, lolol! I do love these brids though..

[@karenharris722]

It's a mating ritual with them to hammer like they do. I had a Northern Flicker do the same thing.

[@SweetStuffOnMonarchLane]

This is going to sound REALLY weird, but every time I see a pileated woodpecker swoop in onto a tree with its back to me it reminds me of how Dracula looked in the movies with his black cloak covering his shoulders! 😆🤣 It's something about their shoulders and the way they slyly look around the tree as they make their way up and down the trunk.... I know, weird, but that's what they always remind me of! Lol!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

i can see why

[@dogmom240]

Now I will be seeing that when I see them! You have created a new way to look at them.

[@Fonzilla138]

Very informative. Thank you!

[@karenries8960]

Thanks for the great video! We feed birds, and our dogs have a perfect view out the window by the couch. Yesterday I saw one of these cool birds pecking at the huge oak tree! We have other woodpeckers, but it was a special treat to watch this giant at work, again, thank you!

[@alanaronald244]

I was astonished to see the flight of a pileated woodpecker & stood still as he landed on a tree. Wanted to get my camera, but didn't want to miss one minute of this creature who reminded me of a prehistoric beast. Awesome.

[@63artemisia63]

@ Alana Ronald Good choice! We miss a lot because of our impulse to “document” or “capture” a moment, which Kodak cameras used to market their earliest products, “Capture the moment.”

[@karenharris722]

They are 'mesmerizing' indeed! I had the pleasure of watching one on a tree not too far up years ago. I watched him for a good twenty minutes.

[@markb2175]

In the 80's a man named Marty Stoffer made great nature docs.He made one on woodpeckers.At that time he stated that pileated woodpeckers were rare and endangered.Im so thankful that they have recovered somewhat.I hear them more than I see them.

[@Barblooms]

I loved those shows!

[@victorianastav4969]

@@Barblooms Marty Stouffer's Wild America!

[@rhodawatkins4516]

@@victorianastav4969 I loved that movie they made about the Stauffer brothers growing up. It's old but it's still so good. Has Jonathan Taylor Thomas in it when he was young. Wild America. Check it out.

[@jeremyblackwater439]

I watch wild America every Saturday morning at 730 here in central Virginia 😃

[@justayoutuber1906]

His shows are on KZbin. look them up

[@RYANandMICHELLEchannel]

Magnificent bird! Thanks for compiling all of the footage and for everyone's contributions!

[@tylerbouck3555]

One of my favorites and I love your content. Thanks Leslie!!

[@justinbroniszewski]

We have quite a few pileated woodpeckers around here in Central New York, and I just love them! My best sighting happened a few years ago when a male landed on a dead tree in our yard and began hollowing out a nest. It was absolutely incredible to see just how quickly he chopped his way through the wood! The tree was dead but solid, and within ten minutes he had made a large opening. In the end the female did not approve but they are close by. Their distinctive call is very loud, and I catch glimpses of them flying about.

[@elizabethanne8729]

Yes. I’m also near CNY and they are often in my back yard.

[@Wendy-zl8kv]

I’m so excited!! My uncle called this woodpecker an Good God bird. I said a what ?, a Good God what a bird 😃 He was the greatest!

[@jago76]

Well, the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker was called the "Lord God Bird," for obvious reasons.

[@duanemattern8283]

He was right they are..they are a very spiritual bird. There meaning spiritually is amazing!!

[@groucrow9709]

@@duanemattern8283 Could you please share more? All the woodpecker group fascinate me. The Pileateds, once I became familiar to them, were wonderful to be with. Thanks, enjoy

[@duanemattern8283]

Grou crow here is something that happened to me with a woodpecker I was coming back from lunch at work and I noticed this bird that I never seen before doing something weird with its neck so I'm in my car and I'm really looking at this bird and all of a sudden it's straightened up and it was a woodpecker I haven't seen one of those in forever and I mean a long time so I got out of my car and I took three pictures consecutively and when I left I went into my job and looked at the pictures there was purple pink gold green lights all around this bird and there was a red flame with an angel's face in it with gold eyes and when you zoom in on the woodpecker you could see the face of Jesus inside the bird I showed a bunch of people it's so amazing it's mind-blowing and when I searched up the spiritual meaning for a woodpecker it's very touching it's kind of long so if you searched up the spiritual meaning of a woodpecker in the spiritual meaning of all those lights you learn a lot that way it's one of the most amazing pictures I have I have a bunch of other ones similar to that with angels and rainbows people are blown away by them

[@duanemattern8283]

@@groucrow9709 read below I'm not good on phone's..

[@ursulaansbach2244]

It's so cool that they mate for life. And that little dance!

[@Dave-bv1mu]

I love their loud raucous calls

[@GaryAa56]

Years back I came out and we just looked at each other. He wasn't afraid of me. Beautiful bird!

[@timeallen6900]

The two on my property are very shy a lot like mourning doves

[@zuss]

I live in a suburb of Montréal in the west island, and I see these guys year around. They truly are a beautiful sight to see and they definitely are goofy birds. Love hearing their drumming. Thank you for this video.

[@keithmcintyre4485]

I lived in the west Island of Montreal as well and had my first and only siting in the town of Hudson Quebec. I couldn't believe my eyes!

[@babysweet97]

Beautiful and as always it's so great to watch all your birds and other videos of wildlife , very interesting and educational 🥰❤❤❤

[@rueandvalerie]

I just saw one of these for the first time outside of my college dorm and followed him around for a good 20 minutes in awe of how BIG he was. I don’t have a camera besides my phone, but just watching was incredible! I didn’t know they existed so I’m glad I could find this video to figure out what it was.

[@ambert.3792]

this was SO GOOD! all the video submissions were beautiful. i am happy to hear they stick together for life, thats adorable. i have a couple that raise their kiddos in my backyard. thanks so much for the info and cool presentation!

[@Stopstaring101]

I live in Ohio and I’ve always said it the way you say it Lesley🐧 I have a family of pileated woodpecker‘s that visit all the time 🥰 Thank you so much for all of your efforts into making this (and all of) your posts🏆!! Very informative and well made 👍🏼 PS, One part I found very interesting that I didn’t know before was that when they drum really fast it is to attract a mate or deter a rival!! I often hear that fast drumming in the summertime here. I always thought they were just looking for bugs… But now I know the fast drumming means something different! Thanks for all the cool info abt these majestic beauties 🥰

[@JB-nr8fu]

I was so happy a couple of weeks ago when 2 were in my backyard for about 15 minutes eating around one of my Willow Oaks. I was transfixed - love them, have seen and heard them often but never that close. My neighborhood is very wooded.

[@accordionbabe]

You read my mind! Love these birds. Thx

[@nevermind2394]

I love everything about the video - I had one in my backyard last week - what a treat!

[@LesleytheBirdNerd]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@davidbrown7932]

I love the design of the woodpecker its beautiful, captures what Canada is.....

[@justayoutuber1906]

Design? Who designed it? I think you mean shape, look, etc

[@lancelotdufrane]

Thank you. Hope you’re well. Thanks for all you gave us.

[@just_kos99]

I'm so happy to say that I saw a female Pileated recently! I was out walking my kitteh, and she was staring at a branch. I looked and there was the woodpecker! I didn't see a streak of red on the cheek, so I know it was a female. I'm hoping to see her again soon. UPDATE: A year later, never saw her again. :( February 2024: haven't seen one again. In this video, my favorite scene is the female doing a courtship dance in front of the camera! I love how both genders do this!

[@JB-dz1zc]

This is the video I have been waiting on, yay! These here birds remind me of Dinosaurs, they are big and Beautiful! I'll be waiting and Thanks, I know this was a lot of work with help from others. I will bet it will be great!!!

[@carriedevries4994]

We have a pair on our property. My husband calls them “Dino Birds”! Too funny.

[@mikegauthier6364]

Yes they have a head somewhat like a pterodactyl.

[@bearl7998]

My wife and I reside in northern Kentucky and we have a wooded area behind our home where two Pileated woodpeckers reside. We were always wondering what the species was because they are so much larger than the other woodpeckers spieces in the same area. We enjoyed your video as it answered many questions about the species we just affectionately called “Woody.” The video was well presented and your voice was delightful. Thank you for a great presentation.

[@edwardtaylor6268]

Thank you!!!! One of my favorite birds.

[@jimbolt5170]

Interesting birds. As for their feeding habits, I heard anecdotally that they will revisit their feeding holes. When they arrive, they give a few whacks with their bill to stir up the ants, who then start running scared up and down their little ant expressways within the tree. The woodpecker can just calmly pick them off as they pass through the feeding hole. Kinda like an “ant drive-thru!”

[@brentbean7903]

Thanks we have been blessed by these birds for several years. they use the many large and old trees on our farm. I have been hearing them more often than I realized thinking they were one of the many Flickers that live with us. Thanks well done.

[@joedirt9600]

I have one hanging out in the bush by my cabin, I hear it calling and hammering. Beautiful birds

[@amnestor]

I adored this video. So happy to have found your channel!

[@stevehorn646]

Omg I'm so excited. This is so cool hello from New Brunswick

[@kenbowers8423]

My friend lives in the town of Lakefield, just outside of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada and we see them all of the time, year round.

[@JohnDillinger12]

These guys are so breathtaking and surprisingly elusive for a fairly large and VERY loud bird. But when you get to watch them fly and in action it is such a treat, especially the striking, powerful males. I have a pair that live in the ravine/forest in my backyard in Eastern Ontario and I am always blessed to have a clear view when I see them. I'll never forget the first time I heard then saw the male up close about 15 feet from me in 2020 it took my breath away.a top 3 bird in my area for me!.

[@fredflintstone6163]

Been observing them fifty years always learning

[@s1nd3r3llee]

Love these woodpeckers! Was introduced to them, when they lived on and around our wooded property in Tennessee. We had a three level home, with a tray feeder hanging high up off the ground. I would make strawberry jam and peanut butter sandwiches, and cut them into eighths. The pulsates woodpeckers would come to that feeder and enjoy them! We had so much fun watching!

[@johnwatson9812]

I enjoyed the videos, especially the first foraging scene where the bird was energetically flinging pieces of log aside to get at the food (much like our cockatoo in her food tray), and liked the mating dance.

[@MandelscapeDA]

One of the BEST SHOWS ON YT seriously you should win an award. I was raised on David Attenborough. And YOU are in the mix!!!!!!!!!!

[@erikhoff5010]

I mostly enjoyed the dancing and swaying. I also enjoyed the 3 heads sticking out of the hole. Fascinating birds they are. We don't see many of them down here in the Southern Midwest. I used to see them alot 40 years ago. Their antics are enjoyable. Thanks so much for capturing videos of them. Your efforts are very much noticed and appreciated. Skal!