Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
Pileated Woodpeckers are magnificent, crow-sized woodpeckers that are a true highlight of Oregon's forests. Their striking black and white plumage, prominent red crest, and loud, far-carrying calls make them unforgettable. They are known for excavating large, rectangular holes in trees as they search for carpenter ants and other insects, leaving behind characteristic signs of their presence.
Distinguishing between male and female Pileated Woodpeckers is relatively easy due to clear and consistent plumage differences on their face.
General Appearance (Male and Female):
Size & Shape: They are the largest woodpeckers in North America, with a long neck, powerful chisel-tipped bill, and a dramatically sweeping red crest that can be raised or lowered. Their body is mostly black, with prominent white stripes running down the sides of their neck and body.
Plumage: Overall black body. In flight, they show extensive white underwing linings and a large white patch at the base of the primaries.
Vocalization: A loud, echoing, uneven series of calls, often described as a "laughing" or "wuk-wuk-wuk-wuk" sound, similar to a Northern Flicker but much louder and more deliberate. Their drumming is typically a loud, powerful, and relatively slow series of thumps.
Behavior: They forage by excavating large rectangular or oval holes in dead or decaying trees and stumps, often leaving behind large piles of wood chips. They also glean insects from bark surfaces.
Distinguishing Male and Female Pileated Woodpeckers in Oregon:
The key to telling male and female Pileated Woodpeckers apart lies in two distinct red markings on their head: the malar stripe (mustache) and the forehead/crown.
1. Malar Stripe (Mustache):
Male Pileated Woodpeckers: Have a bright red malar stripe (often called a "mustache" stripe) extending backward from the base of the bill across the cheek. This red stripe stands out prominently against the black face.
Female Pileated Woodpeckers: Lack the red malar stripe. Instead, this area is black.
2. Forehead/Crown (Front of the Red Crest):
Male Pileated Woodpeckers: The entire top of their head is bright red, from the forehead (above the bill) to the prominent crest at the back.
Female Pileated Woodpeckers:** The forehead (the very front part of the crest, above the bill) is black, while the rest of the prominent crest is red.
Distinguishing between male and female Pileated Woodpeckers is relatively easy due to clear and consistent plumage differences on their face.
General Appearance (Male and Female):
Size & Shape: They are the largest woodpeckers in North America, with a long neck, powerful chisel-tipped bill, and a dramatically sweeping red crest that can be raised or lowered. Their body is mostly black, with prominent white stripes running down the sides of their neck and body.
Plumage: Overall black body. In flight, they show extensive white underwing linings and a large white patch at the base of the primaries.
Vocalization: A loud, echoing, uneven series of calls, often described as a "laughing" or "wuk-wuk-wuk-wuk" sound, similar to a Northern Flicker but much louder and more deliberate. Their drumming is typically a loud, powerful, and relatively slow series of thumps.
Behavior: They forage by excavating large rectangular or oval holes in dead or decaying trees and stumps, often leaving behind large piles of wood chips. They also glean insects from bark surfaces.
Distinguishing Male and Female Pileated Woodpeckers in Oregon:
The key to telling male and female Pileated Woodpeckers apart lies in two distinct red markings on their head: the malar stripe (mustache) and the forehead/crown.
1. Malar Stripe (Mustache):
Male Pileated Woodpeckers: Have a bright red malar stripe (often called a "mustache" stripe) extending backward from the base of the bill across the cheek. This red stripe stands out prominently against the black face.
Female Pileated Woodpeckers: Lack the red malar stripe. Instead, this area is black.
2. Forehead/Crown (Front of the Red Crest):
Male Pileated Woodpeckers: The entire top of their head is bright red, from the forehead (above the bill) to the prominent crest at the back.
Female Pileated Woodpeckers:** The forehead (the very front part of the crest, above the bill) is black, while the rest of the prominent crest is red.