THE NATURAL WORLD OF SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND THROUGH THE LENS OF CAPTAIN YVES- PART 30
This punk rocker looking bird is one of the biggest and most striking forest birds on the continent!
They do not sing however, their very loud “kuk kuk kuk kuk kuk” noise is just as loud and distinctive. As well as this, listen out for the Pileated Woodpecker whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their prey.
These Woodpeckers feast on carpenter ants and leave unique and distinctive rectangular holes in the wood.
Males and females look very similar apart from one detail. Males have a red stripe on their face where females have a black one. They are about the size of a crow.
Nests are usually made in old or dead trees. The males does most of the work but the females will contribute towards the end.For the finishing touches, the bird climbs all the way into the hole and chips away at it from the inside. Periodically the adult picks up several chips at a time in its bill and tosses them from the cavity entrance.