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Rare Visitor

harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania

11 years ago

First time for the Pileated Woodpecker. Nearly twice the size of any other visitor (16-19"), there is no mistaking this giant.

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harryshoe zone6 eastern Pennsylvania
Original Author

11 years ago

Intense is a good word. This guy is almost menacing. Two years ago we spotted a PW in our yard. But, just coming to the window scared it off. It never reached the suet. Today our visitor hung around for 10 minutes on a somewhat ragged piece of suet. I refilled with a new block shortly after the visit. Hopefully it might return.

From what I've read, Pileated Woodpeckers are not common at feeders. I've offered suet for 40 years and this is a first time I've seen one feed.

For the record, I use a 3 lb. piece of peanut butter suet that has chunks of peanut mixed in. No other seeds. It normally attracts a steady stream of Downy, Hairy and Red-Bellied Woodpeckers.

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Comments (7)

catherinet
11 years ago
Cool!!!
claireplymouth z6b coastal MA
11 years ago
Great pic! I love the intense look on its face and the detail of the claws grasping the bark.

Claire
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kendra2003
11 years ago
Wow, lucky you. I've seen them fly over from time to time, but never had one at my suet feeder. Thanks for the great photos!
surya55_gw
11 years ago
Awesome shots! Cherish the moment :-)
brookw_gw
11 years ago
Congrats. That is my wife's biggest birding dream. Pileateds are common in our area; we just can't draw them in close. My neighbor has w/just mixed seed.
hostatakeover swMO
11 years ago
Awesome photos, Harry. We've had a nesting pair here on our property since we bought the place 8 years ago (may not be the same pair), but I've never managed to snap a good photo of either.

Last year was the most successful year they've had with rearing young ~ three survived to reach adulthood, all males.

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