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Kevin Fasken | all galleries >> Galleries >> BIRDS OF ONTARIO > LARGE, LOUD AND PROUD
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29-SEP-2007

LARGE, LOUD AND PROUD

Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus

Yeah, it's true, these guys (or girl in this case) are Canada's largest woodpecker. They hammer away at trees (that's the loud part) excavating huge cavities in the trunks and dropping large wood chips on any hikers that may be under them. These are my favorite of the woodpeckers, followed closely by the Red-Headed.


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Laura 16-Nov-2014 14:05
I lived in Wakefield QC and was often visited by such a bird. On the roof, at the windows, in the trees, peck peck peck. A message? An Omen? Often news would come of a different nature when this Pileated Bird would visit. He is seen often in the neighbourhood there. A lovely sight and a welcomed visitor.
cliff 22-Oct-2013 01:23
I cut down a dead sugar maple one fall for firewood. but when I started to cut pieces for the stove I discovered a massive nest of carpenter ants, though a large length of the tree. It was no good for wood & I left. The next day I had my first visit , I couldn't get over how big it was and how gracefully it flew though the thick bush.Every day I would cut the trunk to expose more food & every day it would come and eat. Wow I will never forget this wonderful experience, it,s just one of those great moments in life. I hope you all see this beautiful bird.
Sarah McParland 14-Apr-2012 20:59
What a beautiful bird. Very large and very noisy. The sound it makes reminds me of "Woody the Woodpecker" Stays up high and doesnt seem well liked by the black birds when it attempts to get near the feeder
LaforestM 28-Mar-2012 11:42
beautiful! Our kids have named our beauty "Daily" as he is here daily...morning and afternoon
Guest 22-Jun-2011 17:51
I just saw a large female out front of the house never seen one before .
Guest 17-Feb-2011 20:38
We have one in our forested yard that stays March till October every year. Watching him move tree to tree to log house is amazing :-] We have had to chase him away many times.
Molly 19-Jan-2011 16:04
They are truly amazing! I had one in my yard at Lake Simcoe and he'd come every day to the same tree pounding it out, he was HUGE at 18 inches high, Just amazing to sit and watch.
Guest 05-Dec-2010 14:14
saw one last year, but they are far and few between
Guest 23-Oct-2010 18:06
I just saw this one today and thought I would see if there was something about it on the internet...happy I found this site :)
Robert 02-Jan-2010 19:22
I am happy to have come acroos this site as I had one in our yard the other day and didn't know what it was every body thought I was making up a tall story
Manon 10-Jun-2009 01:57
I have one that visit's my backyard every year. I've yet too get a picture of it.But I'm still trying.
Allan Mitchell 05-Apr-2009 22:45
So happy to have come across your page. We saw one of these on a trail in Orillia the other day and watched it for a while. Hadn't seen one before and couldn't figure out what it was. Thank you so much
Glen Allen02-Oct-2007 01:57
Nice image... i have yet to see one of these
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