The Pileated Woodpecker is a very large North American woodpecker, almost crow sized, inhabiting deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast.
Dryocopus pileatus eats insects, fruits and nuts. They often chip out large and roughly rectangular holes in trees while searching out insects. The bird ranges 40–49cm long, much bigger than other woodpecker species.
Holes made by the male Pileated Woodpecker are used to raise the young. The male first pecks the hole to attract a female for mating. The cavity is unlined except for wood chips and usually has multiple entrances. Once the brood is raised, the Pileated Woodpeckers abandon the hole and will not use it the next year. The holes become excellent homes for many forest song birds and thus the Pileated Woodpecker is an important ecological species.
Its drumming can be very loud, often sounding like someone striking a tree with a hammer. This bird favors mature forests, but has adapted to use second-growth stands and heavily wooded parks as well. The call is a wild laugh:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGYcEyfVzVk
[All text: Ref (65)]
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