Pileated Patter

By dint of living out in the woods for over 30 years, we have been able to enjoy many varieties of bird calls. Because we live in such a quiet place, we can hear birds calling from far off in the woods. Thus, we rarely see some birds who we long ago identified by their calls, because they are so shy. Sometimes, trying to get a glimpse of one of these bashful birds, I try to sneak up on them in the woods, but they always detect my advances and withdraw even deeper into the trees.

One bird that is unique in both its appearance and call is the pileated woodpecker (see photo below). We have about five species of woodpeckers hereabouts—from the tiny downy (7 inches or 18 cm long) up to the pileated (17 inches or 40 cm long). Woodpeckers forage for ants and other bugs inside live or dead trees, as they hop up and down the tree trunks—bracing themselves with their stiff tail feathers. Their call can be heard from far off in the woods, as they forcefully thump on tree trunks, bashing their long, hard beaks against the bark, as they excavate holes, seeking a buggy lunch.

Pileated woodpeckers have two other sounds that travel well through the woods. One is a call that sounds like a derisive laugh, as the bird flies to and fro, as if in paroxysms of guffaws, brought on by observing some hilarious event. Their merriment seems to last for several minutes, as they fly around, convulsed by their self-derived chortles. I like to think this loud display is simply a way to express their joy at being alive.

The other distinctive sound the pileated woodpecker emits is when he drums on a hollow tree trunk or limb. While the slower-paced pounding (for a meal) is heavy and thudding, the drumming is fast and loud. The bird is intending to send out a message, which is meant to travel a long distance. A woodpecker drums—not for food, but for communication. The hollow sound is intended either to attract a mate or to declare territory and warn off male rivals.

Over the several decades we have lived here we have often heard the large pileated woodpecker off in the woods—drumming away, as he signals others of its species. We've also watched their showy flight, as their brilliant black and white wings flash out, topped by their bright red head.

A pileated woodpecker recently offered me a first-time, long-sought view of it, as it drummed on a hollow snag. (A snag is a standing dead tree—usually broken off at some height, into which woodpeckers and other creatures drill holes and construct dens. Even though a snag may provide good, dry firewood for us, we like to leave them standing—as they offer a sort of high-rise critter hotel.)

This special evening was my first time to watch a pileated woodpecker, as he drummed on a hollow tree. Usually I hear them drum far off in the woods, and wonder what resonating limb or trunk they've chosen to beat upon. This time I could see. Excitedly, I watched this woodpecker hop up and down the tree trunk—looking as if he was seeking bugs, but his search this night was instead to locate a good drumming spot. (Woodpeckers, when they are after bugs, will forage much closer to the ground—as that is where their prey is more likely to be located.) This bird hopped around near the top of the snag, looking for a promising spot, where he rapidly banged away. It was very loud and very fast paced. I watched his head whap back and forth in a black/red blur.

I watched the bird drum, then pause, and move to a new spot, where he drummed again for a couple of seconds—as if seeking a louder spot. Seemingly satisfied with his performance, he finally flew back into the deep woods. I was thrilled to be able to watch the action!

Now, if I could someday watch a male deer rub his antlers against a tree, or an owl carry food to its babies, or a fox pounce on its prey, I'd feel just that much more privileged. With patience and persistence, I might just do so one day.