The pileateds were back this morning!

Ann McRae

My daughter called: " Mom, the big, red headed woodpecker is here again", so I grabbed the 828 and tcon - but still wasn't willing to risk going outside and missing them.









There were 2 of them, but I am pretty sure this is all the same guy. This is the second time there have been 2 together, at least that I have noticed. I hope they are a nesting pair and keep close by.

ann

gus

Such bright headwear !. Nature colours things for a reason & i wonder why the red is just on the head & so bright.

Ann McRae

Could be so they are visible to each other from above. I just learned that the difference between male and female is in the extent of the red crest - goes down the forehead on the male, - and the presence/absence of the red mustache! So, having another look at my photos above - #1 - 3 are the male, and #4 is the female! WOW!
ann

fish

Beautiful birds! (and nice shots too!)

ian408

I found a copy of Sibley's Guide to Bird Life and Behavior as well as the
Guide to Birds (same author). Both of these are very good for identifying
birds. The former gives far more information on species.

I was surprised to see the range of this woodpecker. Roughly Calfornia
(coastal region North of San Luis and the Sierras) then Northern
Canada and verything east of the Mississippi. Nothing about the red
crest though.

Ian

Ann McRae

fish wrote:

Beautiful birds! (and nice shots too!)

Thanks, fish. I think they are quite special - I am so thrilled that they've found my yard.

ann

Ann McRae

I have 2 different 'birds of Alberta' field guides, and both give good details about them. Only one tells how to distinguish male from female - I am embarrassed that I missed the difference just looking at the birds - maybe I was concentrating on the chest markings tho....

No details about their fuzzzy red crests in either.

Thanks for looking.
ann

pathfinder

Humungus wrote:

Such bright headwear !. Nature colours things for a reason & i wonder why the red is just on the head & so bright.

Probably because that is what female pileated woodpeckers prefer!! Ya think 'gus??

wxwax

pathfinder wrote:

Probably because that is what female pileated woodpeckers prefer!! Ya think 'gus??

That's been my experience. Tweet tweet!

Anne, with climate change, you might find those books will eventually be out of date as species move further north. It's already happening in Alaska. Fascinating subject.

ysr612

I saw a Hairy in my back yard. This is the youngster. I think they are the ugliest of all woodpeckers.

Ann McRae

ysr612 wrote:

I saw a Hairy in my back yard. This is the youngster. I think they are the ugliest of all woodpeckers.
QUOTE]

I've seen Hairy woodpeckers around too, but they are less willing subjects than the downys. Never seen a youngster - I don't think they are ugly - maybe just less beautiful!

ann

ysr612

Ann McRae wrote:

ysr612 wrote:

I saw a Hairy in my back yard. This is the youngster. I think they are the ugliest of all woodpeckers.
QUOTE]

I've seen Hairy woodpeckers around too, but they are less willing subjects than the downys. Never seen a youngster - I don't think they are ugly - maybe just less beautiful!

ann

Downys are my favorite. There is a myth here in southeast Texas about Ivory Bills in the big thicket. I have heard it third hand from a local ornithologist. He said two of his grad students saw a nesting pair ~15years ago. Now that would be something I would like to photograph.