Pileated Woodpecker

Dryocopus pileatus

Also known as: Indian Hen, Logcock, Log God, Log Guard, Lord-To-God

About This Species

North America's largest common woodpecker, found in mature deciduous and mixed forest with standing dead wood, where its rectangular excavations and loud, ringing drumming are often more obvious than the bird itself. Listen for its distinctive, laughing call carrying through the canopy and watch for its flashing red crest and bold black-and-white wing pattern in flight. Early morning in spring, when drumming and calling peak during territory establishment, is the most productive time to search.

Ethical Viewing Guidelines

This is a shy, wide-ranging forest species that is usually watched at a distance with binoculars rather than approached; a quiet, slow movement toward a distant drumming bird works better than a direct approach.
Avoid disturbing or damaging the dead and dying trees it depends on for feeding and nesting, since suitable snags are often locally scarce.
Stay well back from an active nest cavity, especially in the weeks before young fledge, when adults are most sensitive to disturbance near the entrance.

LCAvesPiciformesPicidae

Seasonal Activity

5,195,236 sightings · 2000–2026

Citizen science records via GBIF

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Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae

Photo

CC-BY-NC-4.0

Occurrence data from GBIF.