Meet the Pileated Woodpecker

The Pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large black and red woodpecker that is native to North America. Nearly the size of a crow, this bird is hard to miss with its black and white stripes and a bright red mohawk on top of its head. Pileated woodpeckers live year-round in Maryland in mature forests that feature deciduous and coniferous trees. They are commonly seen in our watersheds of Washington County, MD. These birds whack at dead trees in search of carpenter ants and other bugs, and these holes provide shelters for bats and owls. To learn more information about the Pileated Woodpecker, visit: www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/overview#

This Wildlife Wednesday post provided by Zander Hine, ACWA Student Board member