I had just loaded my car and was about to depart for my journey to
west Tennessee last Friday when I heard the call of a pileated woodpecker. It is certainly not the first time I've heard this call in the yard, but this one seemed close by.
The situation gave me pause. I had a five hour drive ahead of me but could I pass up this opportunity to at least see if I could find him? I put everything on hold, retrieved my camera from the car and began scanning the nearby hardwoods. And my efforts were rewarded.
Aided by his calls and movement, I located him on a long horizontal limb, well out of range of my 300 mm lens, but not so far that I can't give you some soft images of this beautiful bird, the largest of our local
woodpeckers, measuring 16-19 inches with a wingspan of 26-30 inches. There was enough detail in the images for me to make out the red in his black mustache stripe and you can see his red forehead, both of which distinguish him from the females who have a dark forehead and no red in their mustache.
I could see wood chips flying as I watched through the lens, but this was not so easy to capture. His movements were not the lingering, steady pounding of the
sapsucker but rather quick jabs intermixed with scooting, so that my only chance of capturing him were his moments of pause. He moved around the limb with agility and hung beneath it working with the same ease as he hammered it from above.
According to
Cornell, the pileated woodpecker makes deep rectangular shaped excavations and often pries off slivers of wood to uncover ants.
As I stood photographing him, I heard an exchange of calls and when he took flight, another pileated woodpecker followed him. It was a treat to see his wing span, the white feathers beneath his wings and his long slender neck as he held his head upright in flight.
Whether this was our resident male and his mate, I can only speculate. Pileated woodpeckers maintain a strong pair bond and live on territory in TN year-round. But we also have many visitors that winter over or pass through and residents are said to tolerate the presence of a few visitors in their territory during wintering months.
Very thrilling photos of the pileated! I saw my first one this year at the log cabin and hoping I can lure him back w/ all my suet treats!
ReplyDeletethis is one bird I have not seen yet. It would be a true lifer for me.
ReplyDeleteI have lived in East Tennessee all my life. I have heard the Pileated Woodpecker on occasion, but never have I actually seen one. Thank you for sharing yours. They are great shots of this elusive bird.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures of an elusive bird.
ReplyDeleteI love their calls. They are so strong, bold, and even mystical on some level for me. Always a fun bird to watch being busy at what it does best.
ReplyDeleteOh I wish one lived near my backyard. I have occasionally heard one here but haven't yet seen it. I had a pair at my previous house and it was so wonderful. Great photos.
ReplyDeleteHi Shelly,
ReplyDeleteI hope he comes to visits your suet too. Hopefully one day soon I can visit the Wildbirds U store here and get started with backyard feeding.
I have seen them several times, Toni, but only fleeting. Never a moment like this one where I could not only find him, but snap some photos before he flew. Fun.
Hi Connie. I have not found them easily either because they like the big, tall hardwoods. So seeing this one was a treat for me, too.
He was fun to watch, Bernie. Chips flying everywhere and numerous calls.
Thanks, Birdlady. I did enjoy this enounter!
What a treat!
ReplyDeletePileateds are such magnificent woodpeckers that ANY encounter is special! You must've loved it!
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great bird and certainly worth delaying the start of your trip for. I especially liked the description and photo of the bird hanging on to the underneath of the branch.
ReplyDeleteWow, great captures of a bird I have yet to see.
ReplyDeleteNice photos Vickey! The pileated woodpecker is one of my favorite birds. I never seem able to get close enough to get a photo of them.
ReplyDeleteLiving pretty much at the end of the Earth where we don't have woodpeckers, this post was a treat. I've seen woodpeckers overseas in various countries, and always delighted in the sighting. Thanks :^)
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. I recently saw 2 pileated woodpeckers in action down here in south Florida. They are fun to watch ... actually, impressive is a better word.
ReplyDeleteHi NWNN, This sighting definitely was a treat.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, Nancy. I have seen them here several times, but until this encounter, its only been a glimpse in flight. I did love it!
Hi, Mick. He scooted around the circumference of that branch, including the upside down excavation. I was impressed with his long toes and claws which are hard to see in these photos.
Hi Cynthia and Bob. Definitely a fun bird to find.
Thanks, Alan. This was one of those times I wished for a digiscope! However, I might not have been fast enough with larger equipment. (There's always an up side.)
Welcome, Pete. I didn't realize New Zealand doesn't have woodpeckers. I'm glad I could share this one with you.
I agree, Robert. Very impressive birds. They seem more elusive than the smaller woodpeckers and their movements more animated.
Pileated Woodpeckers are yard birds for me here on the mountain, I hear them and see them fly over alot. But I have never taken the time to track one for a photo. I'm glad you did. They are amazing birds and not common enough to take for granted.
ReplyDeleteVicki, nice to 'see' you again and what a beautiful story. Too many times we get caught up in our daily lives; how wonderful you stopped to 'take a moment' and were so obviously well rewarded.
ReplyDeleteI love woodpeckers...and while we don't have that big beauty here in southern Colorado, I remember seeing them a few times in the Connecticut woods. This was some 35 years ago, long before I started watching birds, but even then I remember feeling blessed to see such a stunning bird.
Thanks for sharing!
Sweet! I'd have to go on a vacation to see them, but that wouldn't be that bad :)
ReplyDeleteThey are so interesting birds and it's amazing to watch them... I love there colors...
ReplyDeleteHey, Beverly. You must hear them more frequently than I do in NJ. I've been listening and hoping for one to linger a while since last spring when I saw two together. This was a fun encounter.
ReplyDeleteHi CO Beverly! Welcome. Woodpeckers are among my favorites, too. I envy the great selection you have in your area.
Hey, Red. Vacation and a pileated woodpecker sounds like a great combination!
Michelle, they are striking birds, aren't they? And such commanding personalities.
Hi Vickie-
ReplyDeleteI want to add my thanks for taking pictures and sharing your pileated woodpecker sighting. Awesome! I hope to see one some day too!