For daily wit & wisdom, get the Almanac newsletter.

Bird Sounds: Pileated Woodpecker

A pileated woodpecker on a branch
Image Credit:
Pixabay
Written By: Heidi Stonehill Executive Editor

Can you identify the call of the pileated woodpecker? Listen and learn about this woodland bird.

The pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America (after the ivory-billed woodpecker, which is presumed to be extinct). These birds can reach up to 19 inches from tail to tip and sport a wingspan of up to 30 inches! 

The pileated woodpecker gets its name from the bright-red crest on its head. “Pileated,” which comes from the Latin word for “-capped,” ultimately stems from a type of Ancient Greek hat known as a pilos (pileus in Latin).

Pileated Woodpecker

In late winter, the male pileated woodpecker prepares for the upcoming nesting season, which typically starts in April. Using his incredible bill, he hammers out a nesting area in a dead tree and hopes to attract a mate. Once paired, pileated woodpeckers usually hang around their territory throughout the year, defending it from interlopers. Amazingly, they do not reuse their nests from year to year, which makes the hollow an attractive home for other forest dwellers, such as raccoons and owls.

Have you heard a pileated woodpecker in the wild? Add your comments below. Be sure to let us know where you live or where you’ve heard this bird sound before!

Click here to listen to the sounds of other birds! Bird sounds compliments of The Macaulay Library at The Cornell Lab of Ornithology. 

Bird Sounds

About The Author

Heidi Stonehill

Heidi Stonehill

Executive Editor

Heidi Stonehill is the Executive Editor for The Old Farmer’s Almanac, joining the team in 2001. As such, she manages the content development of the Almanac’s line of wall, engagement, box, and special...

Read more from Heidi Stonehill

More Like This

Comments

<span>Matilde Garza</span> Wed, 08/05/2015 - 09:37
I live 4 miles North of Rockdale, TX and have wooded land. A pair of Pileated woodpeckers live on my land. I have been able to take pictures of them after first seeing the male about 4 or 5 years ago. It took awhile to figure out what it was as I had never seen such a large and unusual strange bird. Using my bird book, I learned that only the male has the red mustache. Today I decided to check on the computer and confirm that the loud, almost harsh bird sound I hear often is indeed the pileated's call. I spotted one this morning when I took my usual morning walk but it was too far away to see if it was male or female. I do not expect a return email. This is just to let you know that I am blessed to have such birds on my land. I have also photographed a yellow-billed cuckoo in my birdbath. He was also a mystery until I got help identifying it from a Texas birder.
<span>Macque</span> Fri, 07/03/2015 - 12:21
I hear the call frequently in the woods behind my home east of Pittsburgh, PA. I only see the bird once or twice a year & have never seen 2 together, so I don't know whether there is only one, or more than one.Today I got a video of one pecking on a dead tree behind my neighbors house. Video is poor very quality, since I used my cell phone & the bird was about 50 yds away.I just got the video for my own amusement. :-)
<span>Kathryn Whatley</span> Wed, 03/25/2015 - 13:19
Unfamiliar call. I've seen several of these over the years and heard their calls but today heard an unfamiliar sound. It was low pitched, sort of the same timbre as a mourning dove, and resembled a dog crying which got my attention. After searching with the binoculars I found it in a tree across the road. It bowed its head down when it made the call. Cannot find it referenced on the internet.
<span>Liznfl</span> Sat, 10/18/2014 - 14:51
We have one in our back field in some pines in Milton FL. Beautiful bird- eerie sound.
<span>Marchiele</span> Thu, 12/11/2014 - 09:18
My daughter was here last summer and we heard a weird bird sound in the woods beside my house.She told me it was a Pileated Woodpecker. She lives in Oxford WI. I had never seen one....and yesterday I glanced up out my living room window,AND THERE HE WAS!! I got excited and grabbed my camera but I must have spooked him,he was gone before I could get to the window... I sure hope he returns! I live in Bono Ar.
<span>Lori Dearden</span> Sun, 04/20/2014 - 22:41
We have several in Langley, BC Canada I see and hear them all the time. Knocking as they feed and calling out. Even saw a pair on the ground in my yard one day. Lori
<a title="View user profile." href="/author/editors">The Editors</a> Fri, 06/27/2014 - 13:48

Just heard one on a walk (us, not the bird) about 100 yds from The Old Farmer's Almanac headquarters in New Hampshire!

 <span>John Shepherd</span> Wed, 02/19/2014 - 14:33
I saw the PW a few days ago. He flew from the ground into the split of an oak that split limbs about 18 feet up. I first thought it was a hawk, but he turned out onto the side of tree for a side profile. His head feathers were all bristled out and it was an awesome sight for me to witness here in Lindale (east) Texas
<span>Raul130</span> Fri, 05/17/2013 - 21:54
I have 1 bird living in front of my house in hope mills' nc
<span>Submitter</span> Sun, 04/28/2013 - 18:54
I've seen (and heard) several of these around my house on the NC coast. One of them was HUGE. It was something to behold!