Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is in the Woodpeckers family (Picidae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 62,183 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Seasonal pattern in the national data: year-round resident. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.

When to photograph Pileated Woodpecker: observations by month (U.S.)

About Pileated Woodpecker

The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large woodpecker native to North America. This crow-sized bird normally inhabits deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific coast. It is the second-largest woodpecker in the United States, after the critically endangered and possibly extinct ivory-billed woodpecker. The term "pileated" refers to the bird's prominent red crest, with the term from the Latin pileatus meaning "capped".From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Pileated Woodpecker by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related birds (Woodpeckers)

Downy WoodpeckerDryobates pubescens

Red-bellied WoodpeckerMelanerpes carolinus

Northern FlickerColaptes auratus

Acorn WoodpeckerMelanerpes formicivorus

Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

Hairy WoodpeckerLeuconotopicus villosus

Red-headed WoodpeckerMelanerpes erythrocephalus

Nuttall's WoodpeckerDryobates nuttallii

Photography tips

• Use a fast shutter (1/2000 s or faster) for birds in flight.
• Focus on the eye and shoot at the bird's eye level.
• Approach slowly and stop if the bird changes behavior; never bait or flush birds.
• Morning activity peaks in the first two hours after sunrise.

FAQ