Appearance
Photo credit: Jessica Moore/FWC
A large, mostly black woodpecker about the size of a crow, with black-and-white zigzag stripes on the neck and a large red crest on their head. Males can be distinguished from females by a red "mustache" stripes on either side of its bill. Pileated woodpeckers are sometimes mistaken for the likely extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker, an even larger species of woodpecker that has not had a confirmed sighting since 1944.
Habitat
Pileated woodpeckers are relatively common, using a variety of pine and deciduous forests in Florida. They prefer mature forests with bigger, older trees, but will use younger forests as long as there are a few large dead trees (also known as snags) among them. They may makes their home in neighborhoods if there are plentiful woodlands.
Behavior
Photo credit: Jessica Moore/FWC
Pileated woodpeckers are accomplished excavators, using their large bill to drill and pry apart dead wood to extract their favorite foods of carpenter ants, termites, and wood-boring beetles. Compared to other woodpeckers, their work penetrates deeper into the wood leaving an oblong-shaped excavation. As with other woodpeckers, their diet and abilities makes them critical for preventing insect outbreaks that would otherwise threaten tree health in older forests.
Pileated woodpeckers mate in the spring and prefer using a large dead tree for a nest cavity. Rarely do they reuse a nest cavity, so older nest sites become homes for other birds, bats, squirrels, and other animals. Woodpecker pairs spend about 15 to 18 days incubating the eggs and, once the eggs hatch, it takes another 24 to 31 days for their chicks to learn how to fly. Pileated woodpecker pairs stay together year-round, both defending their territory from rivals.
Living with woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are vital for protecting tree health in forests and for providing vital habitat for many other species. In preparation for nesting season, woodpeckers can engage in behaviors that may disrupt our everyday routines. Woodpecker males loudly "drum" on metallic objects like gutters to advertise their presence to potential rivals and mates. They can also peck at reflective surfaces like mirrored windows and doors, confusing their own reflection for a rival bird they're trying to drive away. These behaviors typically last a few weeks and will go away on their own. If the behavior continues to persist, people can scare off the bird with motion-activated devices or by covering the reflective surfaces with tarps so the bird cannot find it's "rival".
Sometimes woodpeckers may excavate structures in search of food or shelter. Most commonly, this is done to create a nest cavity. Should this happen, keep in mind that woodpeckers and their active nests (contained eggs or chicks) are protected by the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. On rare occasions, insect-riddled wood might be attractive to woodpeckers, whose foraging leaves behind lots of small foraging holes. This can be prevented by keeping up with building maintenance and pest control schedules for wood-eating insects. For general tips on preventing and resolving issues with woodpeckers, see the Additional Information below.
Woodpeckers can be an enjoyable neighborhood visitor to observe. To sustainably support woodpeckers and other wildlife in your yard, follow FWC's guide to creating wildlife habitat at home.