Pileated Woodpecker Fun Facts - Tap Into Their Story!
- Keith Ross
- Aug 30
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 7
Pileated Woodpecker - Liftoff - Sequim, Washington - Largest Woodpecker - The giant of the forest! The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America (after the legendary Ivory-billed). Nearly crow-sized, they measure up to 19 inches long with a 29-inch wingspan. This Pileated Woodpecker Fun Facts Blog is the first of many I will be creating to educate and entertain people of all ages.
Pileated Woodpecker in Flight - Sequim, Washington - The striking red crest and loud, laughing call of the Pileated Woodpecker inspired the famous Woody Woodpecker cartoon character.
Pileated Woodpecker - Portrait Posed - Sequim, Washington - Pileated Woodpeckers chip out deep, rectangular holes in dead trees, hunting their favorite food—carpenter ants. Sometimes their excavations are so big they split small trees in half!
Pileated Woodpecker - Wings on Display - Sequim, Washington - I was able to get 2 images of him taking flight in one session. I have tried for many years to get one! 2 in a row was more than I could have hoped for. Sometimes you just get rewarded doing this. When Pileated Woodpeckers abandon their nest cavities, they become vital shelter for owls, ducks, bats, and more. They’re true architects of the forest.
While many birds fly south, Pileated Woodpeckers stay put. In Washington, you can see them all year long, defending their territories with their mate.
Pileated Woodpecker - Deep Beats - Sequim, Washington - pileated woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) have a noticeably deeper and heavier wingbeat than most other birds you’re likely to see.
Why Their Wingbeat Seems Deeper
• Size & Wing Structure: They’re the largest woodpecker in North America (up to 19 inches long with a 29-inch wingspan). Bigger wings move more air per stroke, which produces that deep, whooshing “thump” sound.
• Slow Wingbeat Frequency: Compared to smaller birds like flickers or downy woodpeckers, their wingbeats are slower and more deliberate. This gives the impression of a deeper, more powerful rhythm.
• Flight Style: Like other woodpeckers, pileateds use an undulating flight pattern (flap–glide–flap). But when they flap, the sound is more resonant because of their size.
How It Compares
• Smaller Woodpeckers: Hairy, downy, or red-bellied woodpeckers have quicker, higher-pitched wingbeats, almost like a rapid flutter compared to the pileated’s heavy “whump.”
• Crows/Ravens: The pileated’s wingbeat is actually closer in depth to a crow or raven than to most other woodpeckers, though woodpeckers’ flight pattern still sets them apart.
• Recognition Cue: That deep, echoing wingbeat is one of the field marks birders use to identify them, even before seeing the red crest.
Pileated Woodpecker - Disheveled - Sequim, Washington - Because they need large tracts of mature forest, Pileated Woodpeckers are considered an indicator species. Their presence often signals a healthy ecosystem with plenty of biodiversity.
Pileated Woodpecker Feeding a Fledgling - Sequim, Washington
This touching moment shows a Pileated Woodpecker feeding its juvenile right at my bird feeder—an incredible glimpse into the devoted parenting behavior of one of North America’s most iconic woodpeckers.
Both parents take turns feeding their young, working tirelessly to bring food back to the nest. In the wild, they primarily feed their chicks ants, beetle larvae, and other insects excavated from dead trees. However, they’ll also take advantage of nearby food sources—including backyard feeders like mine—especially as the chicks grow and begin exploring outside the nest.
After hatching, the chicks stay in the nest cavity for about 24–28 days. During this time, both the male and female diligently feed them by regurgitating food directly into their mouths. Once the young fledge, they stay close to their parents for several weeks, learning how to forage, climb, and communicate.
You’ll often hear the juvenile calling loudly and fluttering its wings in a begging posture—just like in this photo—prompting the adult to pass along a mouthful of food.
Pileated Woodpeckers - Mature Above, Juvenile Below - Sequim, WA - Know how to tell the difference and the sex? Read on! Juvenile vs. Adult Pileated Woodpecker – Key Differences
1. Crest Shape & Texture
• Juvenile: Crest is usually shorter, fluffier, and not as sharply defined. It may look a little unkempt or rounded.
• Adult: Crest is longer, sleeker, and sharply pointed, especially prominent in males.
2. Forehead Color
• Juvenile: Often has a dusky gray or brownish forehead, not as vibrant as adults.
• Adult Male: Forehead is bright red.
• Adult Female: Forehead is black, making the red crest appear more set back.
3. Moustache Stripe (malar stripe)
• Juvenile: This can be duller or not fully developed.
• Adult Male: Has a bright red malar stripe (the line running from the base of the beak down the cheek).
• Adult Female: This stripe is black.
4. Behavior
• Juvenile: Often seen begging for food, fluttering wings, and calling loudly with a higher-pitched squeaky version of the adult call.
• Adult: More composed behavior — feeding, drumming, and territorial calls.
5. Overall Appearance
• Juvenile: Slightly smaller body size, fluffier feathers, and less crisp contrast in markings.
• Adult: Bold black-and-white contrast on face and body, with glossy black feathers.
If you caught the young one being fed, look for that dusky forehead and slightly fuzzy crest. The posture and begging behavior are also dead giveaways.
Pileated Woodpecker Juvenile Wings Spread - Sequim, WA - Here is a great example of a Juvenile Male Pileated Woodpecker, showing the Moustache Stripe (malar stripe) being not fully developed.
• Juvenile: This can be duller or not fully developed.
• Adult Male: Has a bright red malar stripe (the line running from the base of the beak down the cheek).
• Adult Female: This stripe is black.
Pileated Woodpecker Juvenile - Ant Farming - Sequim, WA - Last post of my Pileated Woodpecker series. Hope you enjoyed it! Up next, the beautiful Stellar's Jays
Timeline for Developing Adult Markings
0–1 Month After Fledging (Roughly June–July)
• Crest is still fluffy and short.
• Facial markings are muted—the black-and-white contrast is softer.
• The malar stripe (“mustache”) is dull, patchy, or incomplete, especially in males.
• Juveniles still beg for food from parents and stay close by.
1–3 Months After Fledging
• Feather replacement begins—this is the early pre-basic molt.
• Red crest becomes longer and sharper.
• Malar stripe in young males becomes more defined and red.
• Young females maintain a black malar stripe, like adult females.
• Body feathers begin to show crisper contrast, though some juveniles still have a slightly browner tone.
By Autumn (Sept–Oct)
• Most juveniles look very similar to adults and are often indistinguishable at a glance, especially from a distance.
• Close inspection may still reveal slightly worn or uneven feathers and some remaining juvenile traits, like shorter crests or a touch of dusky feathering on the face.
Male and female juveniles both start out looking similar, but as the molt progresses, their sex-specific features (like the red vs. black malar stripe and forehead) become more apparent.
If you’re seeing the juvenile at your feeder now (late August), they’re likely in that in-between stage—starting to get that sleek adult look but still sporting a bit of baby fuzz and possibly a not-quite-there malar stripe.
This is fantastic! Thanks for capturing earths little miracles!