Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) by Charlie Lentz

Charlie Lentz | all galleries >> Galleries >> Birds in Maryland > Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Linthicum, MD

If you find the Pileated Woodpecker fascinating be sure to visit my separate gallery of PW photos.

Nikon D70

other sizes: small medium original auto

previous | next

Adkins		24-May-2021 14:15
Pileated not pillaged

Adkins		24-May-2021 14:00
Saw pillaged fly onto a telephone pole then into small area of nearby woods. Gas station on the corner of Phillip Morris dr. And old o.c. Red.

Doug Bracy		24-Jul-2020 00:56
Saw my first Pleated Woodpecker

Doug Bracy		24-Jul-2020 00:55
Wow I just saw my first Pleated Woodpecker. and I’m 75 years old

Doug Bracy		24-Jul-2020 00:49
Dang , I just saw my very first Pleated Woodpecker how magnificent this bird-appears , stunning my-wife was littery blown away and were 75 years old,

Elaine Boyd		26-Jun-2020 21:38
We have one that visit our backyard feeders in Garrett County. They are beautiful.

Guest		17-May-2020 14:18
In Columbia, MD!

Guest		17-May-2020 14:17
My wife and I were sitting on our deck when we saw this bird walking on the ground. It then off, first stopping at a couple trees before flying off. We've never seen it before, but it was beautiful. Thanks to this pic, we know it's a Pileated Woodpecker! So cool!!

Asia		13-Mar-2020 23:36
I saw this bird in my backyard in brandywine, MD while sitting on my deck. Knew it was a woodpecker from the loud pecking noise it made, while while hanging upside down and hopping from tree to tree. Also, the red feathers were so bright! In awe of this bird :)

Guest		21-Mar-2018 13:26
Isawapileatedwoodpeckerinmybackuardonourbordfeader

Eileen		26-Feb-2018 21:53
Was blown away by one of these beauties as it hung upside down on our bird feeder. The feeder is literally an arm's distance from my face. I remained completely still and was able to view him for a good solid minute or two. Just stunning and quite big.

Christina		15-Jun-2017 17:01
Just saw 2 of them on the trails at Oregon Ridge this morning.

Guest		07-May-2017 16:23
Pileated wp visits our backyard often in Jarrettsville. Prior years only seen infrequently in woods behind house. But now shows new found bravery ! Certainly majestic in appearance.

Alexia		04-Apr-2017 14:59
Just saw one in the trees behind my house in Randallstown. Wow, it's big!!!

Bruce Cotter		01-Mar-2017 00:36
Bruce Saw a pileated this morning in Butler, Md. Hard at work on an old dead pine tree. Sounded like a bass drum.

Guest		23-Dec-2016 21:53
Enjoyed seeing one of these in my backyard in Gaithersburg/North Potomac Maryland today!

Guest		27-May-2016 23:19
Thanks for the photo! I saw one in my yard today (Bethesda) and thought it was a punk pterodactyl :) It's so big!

Cory		23-Jan-2016 18:19
Huge bird! Saw a pileated woodpecker this summer in Cheverly, MD. I had just installed a chimney cap (a black, metal-topped thing). When I came down off of the ladder he landed on it and pecked at very loudly as if to say, "Check me out." Then he flew off. I've never seen one before or since.

Gary		09-Nov-2015 17:27
Two Pileated Woodpeckera in Beltsville MD just after noon. Then twenty minutes later I spotted a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Must be the season - or I'm just paying attention today.

militaire		25-Sep-2015 13:07
Nice picture:)

Catholique		02-Sep-2015 09:09
Thank you for your pictures.

Guest		22-Jul-2015 14:28
Just spotted a woodpecker outside my window, then did a google search "woodpeckers in Maryland" to confirm the species, and the first thumbnail I saw was your Pileated Woodpecker--thanks! John

Bill		13-May-2015 19:40
Just saw one in Owings Mills near New Town on May 10th. Magnificent!

Guest		11-May-2015 20:40
Just saw 2 in my backyard in Upper Marlboro. They were so pretty and larger than the typical bird so I decided to search images on Google to see what they were. It confirmed my suspicion of them being woodpeckers since I had seen them picking at the bark if trees. They were nice to see!

Guest		10-May-2015 22:16
I just had one in my back yard in Granby Ma! Beautiful woodpecker! Huge with huge wing span... The colouring was so vibrant! I tried to get a picture but it spooked easily and I was not able to either time it came with in 20 minutes time. I will keep my eyes open and camera at the ready!

Guest		24-Apr-2015 17:52
its biggg

Linda		22-Apr-2015 19:35
I just saw one in Owings Mills, MD. He flew in front of my car and landed in the woods on a tree. I was very surprised how big he was because I regularly get the smaller woodpeckers in my backyard and he was way bigger!

Mr. Joe		28-Mar-2015 23:18
I saw one yesterday on my street in the Villa Nova/ Pikesville community pecking at a old rotted tree stump. This is a big and powerful bird ! Wood chips were flying out as he pecked and twisted his head !! I was mostly intrigued about it's size...about 12-14 inches !!, WOW ...huge for a woodpecker around here, so I pulled over and watched it for about 4 minuets. I know this a rare treat around here and I was thankful to enjoy watching it in action. Next time I'll take photos !!

Guest		26-Feb-2015 17:55
SAW THIS ONE FIRST TIME ABERDEEN MD. REALLY SOMETHING TO SEE! BARRY AND CAROLYN

Guest		08-Feb-2015 17:41
Saw this beautiful bird yesterday in Forest Hill,harford county,md

phil		25-May-2014 05:14
Bunches of these in Cumberland Maryland. ....

Stew		14-Apr-2014 12:16
There's one in my backyard in Arnold taking bark off a stump. Big bird!

Guest		23-Jun-2013 14:30
Thought someone hammering on front deck...three of them pecking apart wood ...very strong bird...must be bugs in there they getting at... funny I open door they left...few minutes later they back...time and time again

Guest		02-Jun-2013 13:57
We have one living in our back yard in Manchester, MD

Guest		23-May-2013 03:01
I saw a young male feeding on ants today in Potomac. It did its best to hide on the opposite side of the tree from me

John		19-May-2013 12:32
Two of these pecking on a old stump in our back yard. I live near Cumberland MD. Fantastic.

Lori		05-Apr-2013 08:32
Spotted one in Bethesda, MD yesterday --- very exciting! We get Downys and Hairys at the birdfeeder in northwest D.C. (very near border with Bethesday) but had never before seen this huge guy!

Guest		08-Mar-2013 16:50
We've been seeing this bird on and off this winter in Pasadena md. Just Identified it today thanks to your sight.

Guest		25-Feb-2013 13:31
I just saw this wonderful woodpecker' not sure what type of bird it was at first but it, bright red col our on it,s head made me get a closer look it was fascinating watching it eat and spit out what it did,not want'.I spotted this graceful bird this morning in old HIstoric ELlicott city MD.

Guest		13-Jan-2013 20:07
Heard it first, then watched as it landed on a branch of a nearby tree. Was able to identify it by the crescent shaped white underwing. The Downs subdivision Annapolis, MD

Pauline Lamberg		16-Dec-2012 17:44
Just saw 2 Pileated Woodpecker in Rockville MD today 12/16/12. Thank God for vision; they are beautiful!

RS		05-Nov-2012 01:30
I was in Patapsco Valley State Park (McKeldin rec area) and saw this bird today. I saw it when I was on the Tall Poplar trail at around 10:45am (EST).

Guest		02-Jul-2012 21:43
Just saw 3 in my backyard, Olney, .MD.

Guest		26-May-2012 03:09
I took a picture of two of these birds today in Columbia, Md playing in mulch. Beautiful birds.

Guest		03-May-2012 12:20
I saw one in the yard next door yesterday at approx. 7 a.m. in Catonsville, MD. Such a beautiful bird, and quite large with brilliant color. I never saw one before.

Guest		18-Apr-2012 17:46
My first sighting of a Pleated Woodpecker, 18 April 2012, Fulton Md. This is for those who may be tracking their whereabouts. Probably larger than your average rooster. Amazing.

Guest		30-Mar-2012 19:28
I just recorded this bird in my backyard in White Plains, MD. I would always hear it but never seen it until today.

Guest		05-Mar-2012 21:22
Saw two in my backyard this morning -- Charlotte Hall, MD. A large bird!

Matthew		20-Jan-2012 19:06
My daughter and I say two in our back yard today, in Hollywood, MD. Loved the vivid red "hat" on top of it's head. I've never seen one down here before, so it was a real treat. Looking more closely, we saw the second one a little further out. After not having seen any, and seeing two in the same day, fantastic.

Brandon		14-Dec-2011 19:30
I live in Baltimore city (Butchers hill/Fells Point neighborhood) and spotted one in a tree about 20 yards away from me from the third floor of my balcony. I have never seen a woodpecker so big in my life. It honestly scared me.I thought it was some sort of hawk or vulture.

Dave		24-Nov-2011 13:55
These are regular visitors in our back yard (woods) Frederick MD. We have one about 10" inches just off the deck in a large decaying tree.

Monty		23-Nov-2011 01:47
We had one of these in our back yard last week. Salisbury, MD (Eastern Shore) by Nutters Cross Golf course. It was very noisy bird, that is the first thing we noticed. It does not stay around long either... What a Woodpecker!

Dustin		28-Oct-2011 21:24
I was on a run this morning and saw a large, beautiful one about a mile south of Lake Needwood along Rock Creek trail, just after the wooden bridge on the left if you're heading north. It was pecking holes in a dead tree there. Really impressive.

S. Leonard		05-Aug-2011 22:42
Had a visit just an hour or so again.I live in Kensington, MD; Montgomery Co. I have visits from woodpeckers; but, this was a WOODPECKER!! Discovered what it was; from your site. What a magnificant bird: Brilliant Red Large Crest; Huge, Tall Bird; Remarkable Wing Span as it Soared away. I believe it had a bit of white on the wings. Shortly after the bird left a smaller woodpecker arrived. This bird went to the birdfeeder holding sunflower seeds; instead of landing on the mature Maple in my yard. After the smaller woodpecker selected it's seed; it flew over to the large Tulip tree to enjoy it's snack. I don't recall a woodpecker at my feeder in quite awhile. They usually like to peck at the dead branches hanging from a tree. I wonder .... was this a fledging of the first bird. Or .. just a different kind of woodpecker? If it was a different kind ... I wonder do they 'hang out' together, as so many other types of birds do? Hmmmmm? Thank you for your site. Leonard38@aol.com

Guest		20-Jun-2011 17:01
Gail We were at Deep Creek Lake MD. this pass weekend and spotted a Pileated Woodpecker in a tree. Such a beautiful bird. I wish I had gotten better pictures! Hope to see again!

meghan		22-Apr-2011 16:51
heard a woodpecker last week, saw this little guy on my birdfeeder today.

Pat		09-Apr-2011 18:03
10 years ago I moved into Sagamore Forrest in Reisterstown. Our daughter who was 8 at the time was not very happy to be living in the woods and was a bit scared. One day we heard this really loud hammering outside our front door and there on the tree were two of the biggest pleated woodpeckers I have ever seen! They were beautiful. They also scared my daughter something awful! I have seen them through out the years and now see many other size pleated WP but the two I saw that day were VERY LARGE! I love your pictures.

Guest		05-Apr-2011 15:07
I have been attempting to get a picture of the pileated woodpecker that visits the woods behind my house for years. It finally landed in a tree in my backyard a few weeks ago. It didnt seem at all disturbed as to how close I was to it. It has the most unique sound.

Melvin		05-Apr-2011 14:36
I seen three birds like this but they were huge with off-white colored beaks. One flew over my head and made this scary sound and perched on a tree then 2 others joined it on the tree. They were the largest wood peckers I'd ever seen. Only 2 other sitings but the first was 7/10 and the next was 12/10 I think the wing span was at least 2.5' Upper Marlboro, MD

Betty Masemore		02-Apr-2011 14:38
The week of 3/20/2011, I heard and saw this red-headed woodpecker pecking away at a tree in my yard located in Perry Hall, Maryland. A few days later, I found an oval type hole in the tree. I'm sure the woodpeckher has been nesting there since 3/21/2011.

Mike		01-Apr-2011 13:39
Just saw two of these beautiful birds on a dead tree just outside of our kitchen window (in Davidsonville, MD). What a sight!

PATRICIA		01-Feb-2011 21:49
I saw the Pileated Woodpecker for the first time and it was beautiful! I am an avid bird watcher and was in awe with its size and beautiful color. Thanks for taking such a beautiful picture and listing the camera you took it with.

Guest		23-Jan-2011 17:55
I live in Charles County, Maryland. I was out early this morning with our dog in the backyard and I heard this unusual bird call sound way up in our tall trees. I looked and thought that can't be a big black bird making that sound and bobbing his head back and forth. He finally flew close enough to us and I realized it was this large woodpecker. I couldn't believe my eyes. I watch all the birds all the time. I have lived here over 13 years and never saw this beautiful creature. He was pecking away and it echoed threw the woods...so cool. Great comments and great picture!

Gail Darlington		08-Jan-2011 15:09
WOW, I just saw a Pileated Woodpecker in the trees of my back yard. About 50 ft away. I at first thought it was a red belly. Then I realized The wing span as it landed was way to big to be a Red bellied. The red was in a different way and it had white under the wings, and much larger. It was flitting between the trees foraging. I was in awe and I couldn't move . I just stared at it and went to another window to see it some more. I have lived in Harford county for 10 years and We get alot of birds. I have monitored all of them and this was a blessing to see. It was a female. I guess the male is somewhere and I am hoping to see him too!

Guest		11-Dec-2010 19:14
My wife and I just saw one in our back yard wooded area in Beltsville adjacent to to the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center property (near Odell and Grant Road). Large and beautiful. First time we had ever seen this particular type of woodpecker. Stunning! Awsome! Wish we had had a camera handy.

guest		30-Nov-2010 22:29
Just saw one yesterday at Lake Needwood in Rockville. Beautiful & Big!

guest		20-Oct-2010 18:31
For the first time I saw one today at our bird feeder next to the house in Chevy Chase. Huge, a minimum of 10" and absolutely magnificent. Hope it comes back again

Amy		06-Jul-2010 12:37
I just saw one in my backyard this morning on July 6th in Potomac. What a wonderful sight! I've never seen one this close before.

Guest		15-Jun-2010 03:03
I saw a pair of these today at Cabin John Park in Bethesda. They were very big, probably a foot in height. I didn't woodpeckers grew that large. Amazing looking birds.

Gregg		29-May-2010 17:29
We have a mating pair in the wooded area near our home; they have an unusual call to each other at dusk for about an hour;beautiful to say the least,located in the Elkton area near the upper Elk River.note also that these were also both 12" plus in height

Guest		17-May-2010 02:16
My husband first saw this bird in a tree in our back yard in Pikesville, Maryland. It is the most unusal bird we have ever seen around here. It comes back every morning. Now it pecks on the door in the familly room. We think it sees its reflecton in the mirrored paper.

Mickey		12-May-2010 00:25
I have lived on a well-treed lot in Calvert County for nearly 30 years now. Today was the first time I ever saw this bird. Beautiful! Tall! Had to find out what it was. We have woodpeckers but never saw this type before.

Guest		13-Feb-2010 22:37
I've seen this bird around my house for the past 2 weeks in Sparks, MD. I was surprise how large it was and hope to post a picture soon.

Guest		12-Jan-2010 14:42
Amazing catch, beautifully done! I so love the call of this bird, it is the ring-tone on my cell. People look at me very strangley when my I answer my phone in pulic, lol!

grace		06-Dec-2009 17:03
I just saw this bird at Belpree road, and I took some picture, so interesting, I remember about cartoon movie woody

Guest		16-Aug-2009 12:36
Pam S. My boyfriend and I were on a towpayh at greatfalls in Potomac, Md. There were two far upin the tree in front of us. They were huge 12", and beautiful. We thought they were woodpeckers but were'nt sure until your pic. Thank you!

Guest		17-Jun-2009 15:43
I saw this bird in an old wooden building in Adams Morgan, DC

Mirsa		07-Mar-2009 21:15
I go hunting with my husband and I we saw two and I love them. I take some pictures but they were small because I don't hve a good camera.

jissica		03-Mar-2009 17:02
i really like the crest its like blood red

Ed		18-Jan-2009 22:21
I saw two of these birds in my backyard this morning. They both were at least 10'

sharon dulaney		22-Nov-2008 13:38
My husband and I have a bird feeder filled with wildbird fee in the backyard of our home in Ferndale, MD and saw one this morning. It was so amazing and puzzling that I jumped right onto the internet to find out what kind of bird it was. Thank you for your post of the birds.

terry		14-Jul-2007 17:39
I have always wanted to see one of these. They are so rare! My husband saw one in our yard, but I did not have the pleasure. he said the one he saw was huge, 12"! Maybe he was exagerating, but I am still jealous. Your photo is the closest I have come to seeing it for real and I am grateful. It is amazingly beautiful!

George		28-May-2007 18:47
I saw one in my yard "wooded area" with dead stump. I took several pictures of it. I live in Lusby. It was about 6" in all, very colorful.

Rosalind		12-Mar-2006 18:28
I was at Patapsaco Park and saw a bird similar to this one, did you ever think of including a little info. on the birds you photo(for people like me)? Nothing extreme, maybe the size etc.

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment