Less Common Birds at the Feeder: Pileated Woodpecker (F)

Of all the beautiful birds that hang around our feeders, the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is, to me, the most magnificent. A very large bird, about as a big as a crow, a Pileated Woodpecker is really impressive up close. Many folks are unable to attract them to their feeders, but I think the fact that our feeder is way up high in a tree makes them feel more comfortable. The males are way more skittish than the females and will be much more difficult to photograph, but I hope to capture his distinctive red “mustache.” The females are pretty much fearless; this one let me take hundreds of pictures while she chowed down on suet for fifteen minutes or more. These amazing birds have not been seen at the feeders since early summer, but now that freezing weather has arrived, they will definitely be checking out the bird buffet here at Chez Nuvoid from time to time. We are so lucky!