pair of pileated woodpeckers
nicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years ago
was holding my phone thru the blinds so not the best pic but aren't they fun?
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
Related Discussions
Way cool..Pileated Woodpeckers!/off topic
Comments (16)well, Zyperiris, heheh I think I was definitely "wearing my brains" on backwards; I can't believe I missed out on that important descriptor-- prehistoric and wild and rough! I never thought of a bird being wild and rough except for a parrot that doesn't get enough attention from its owner, lol! So that descriptor should have caught my eye. I think I just saw the first 2 responses and jumped to the gun with mine, ridiculous me! Anyway, I am hoping one of these days we'll be able to enjoy a photo of your Pileated woodpeckers and your wood beaver! But again, it's so difficult to catch a real-live photo of wildlife and who cares about the photo compared to just the joy of seeing the real thing in person! You must have some really tall massive trees on your property. I would imagine one would need those kinds of trees to attract those woodpeckers. Keep us updated when you! get the chance to see these amazing birds! am crossing my fingers you'll get to see one soon, soon, soon!...See MoreWell, I FINALLY Got It!
Comments (19)I still get excited about getting a good look at any kind of woodpecker, but your photo is great! I have never gotten a picture of any of my woodpeckers. We only rarely see the Pileated (it's a big favorite for me, too!!), but our Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers call all day long, every day in the Black Gum Swamp. We also get Red-headed Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers and Northern Flickers in there. Our very oldest, tallest Slash Pine is dying and I guess it will become a popular tree with the woodpeckers. It was struck by lightning at least twice since we moved to the property in 1997! Since we dug a new pond near our house we get to see a Belted Kingfisher and various enormous herons and egrets pretty often. Let's see, I guess my butterfly-related comment is that I wonder if there are any tricks to getting Red Admirals. Any suggestions on where I should plant my False Nettle seed? I already planted a lot in wet soil along the new pond where it's still bare. This forum is so tempting once spring comes along... but I need to go outside!...See Morewinged visitors
Comments (11)Karalynn, believe it or not, both of these pileateds appear to be females. It's a bit hard to tell in the picture, but adult males have a red crest that comes all the way forward to their beaks, where the female's red stops in the center of the head, leaving a black area from just behind the eye forward to the beak. Now I can't see that for SURE in this photo, but I can see one other field mark...the stripe that runs from the corner of the mouth back to the neck is black in the females and red for a portion of the way in the males. Both of these birds appear to have black cheek stripes, so I believe they are females. They could be young female nestmates who haven't branched out into their own territory yet. I have often seen whole families of pileateds foraging together. Next time you see them, see if you can tell whether the red on the crest of either one extends all the way forward to the beak. You are so lucky to be enjoying the bluebirds up close and personal (you and Maureen!!). I have seen them many times in Florida, but always in rural areas with pastures or large meadows nearby. They are year round residents in Florida which need to be encouraged as much as possible. Invasive exotic birds like house sparrows and starlings throw them OUT of their nests and take over. They took a really bad hit from them for many years and were on the decline drastically. Loss of open habitat has hurt them too, but they WILL nest in urban areas when they find suitable food sources. (They use nestboxes, for those who don't know, and putting them out, plus planting lots of fruiting trees and shrubs can draw them in.) Marcia...See MoreWhat's in Your Yard?
Comments (63)I'm on two acres in semi-rural central Massachusetts, bordering conservation land (wetlands). This is the first time I've thought about itemizing what I've seen in my four years, here. It's a long list, and I'm sure it's just a fraction! We have a pond, and keep half the property meadow. (Maybe, by some standards, the whole thing is a meadow....) I've been putting up birdhouses, lately. We see (in rough order of how interesting...) great blue herons, red tail hawks, egrets, a large flock of cedar waxwings, redwing blackbirds, barn sparrows (how do they know it's a barn?), downy/hairy/piliated/red-breasted woodpeckers, orioles, juncos, nuthatches, and the usual finches, bluejays, cardinals, yadda yadda yadda. A wood duck down the road, and I wish he'd visit. Spring peepers (I can't wait for them to come back!), leopard frogs, other various frogs and toads, garter/ribbon/maybe milk snakes, 4-toed salamanders. Turtles nearby, but not at my pond. In the pond, various snails, leeches, more frogs, infinite insects (especially mosquitoes). In the orchard, every pest an apple tree has ever known. Mice, groundhogs, rabbits, grey squirrels, flying squirrels, chipmunks. Coyotes, foxes, deer. Neighbors have seen a bear and reportedly minks, but not me. Beavers have us surrounded, but they are not my own yard. Some lovely spiders, and some plain ones too. Lots of paper wasps and various bees. More mosquitoes. In fact, mostly, we have mosquitoes. And worms. --Jonathan...See Morenicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years agonicholsworth Z6 Indianapolis
7 years ago
Related Stories
GARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Healthy Home Habitats for Northern Flickers
These colorful woodpeckers found across the U.S. and Canada love berries, seeds and ants and often nest in deep burrows in trees
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Northern Cardinals in the Snow, and Other Red Birds
Brilliant crimson feathers make these friends stand out in a crowd
Full Story
GARDENING FOR BIRDSBackyard Birds: Meet Some Clever and Curious Jays
Boisterous jays provide plenty of backyard bird-watching in winter. Here’s how to identify all the varieties and welcome them into your yard
Full Story
GARDENING FOR BIRDSBackyard Birds: Marvel at Chickadees This Winter
These North American natives flock to bird feeders and entertain with their complex birdcalls
Full Story
GARDENING FOR BIRDSBackyard Birds: Those Nutty Nuthatches
The North American songbirds, which often perch upside down, make themselves known in the winter landscape
Full Story
GARDENING FOR BIRDSWild Birds Transform a Woman’s Garden and Life
How Sharon Sorenson created a wildlife haven and became the Bird Lady of Southern Indiana
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESBackyard Birds: Invite Entertaining Hummingbirds Into Your Garden
Hummingbirds — unique to the Americas — zip through open landscapes seasonally or year-round. Here’s how to attract them
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDES13 North American Backyard Birds to Know
Find out about these enchanting native species and learn how to attract them to your yard
Full Story
GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIESA Quick-Start Guide to Bird-Watching for Fun and Learning
Set out some seed and grab your field guide. Bird-watching is an easy, entertaining and educational activity for the whole family
Full Story
GARDENING AND LANDSCAPINGBe a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too
Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand
Full Story
andy99mich