Pileated Woodpecker - Deja Vu

We have PW's also in our woods. Started out with a pair and now up to 5 or 6 individuals. Can hear them hammering at different times of the day. Most of the people around our section of Hardeman Co, TN have sold a lot of their trees to sawmills. Not us. The PW's like old trees and until we die, our trees will just get older and older. LIZ

pelletory, last year they did not come around my cars, only 2004 and 2005. I could get within 10 feet or less on occasion. If they were on the car, most times they just moved around to the other side as I approached. We played car tag !!! Obviously this behavior is not normal.

Here's one photo taken through the windshield and driver's side window.

Thats so funny!! I can't wait to see one. Thanks Linth!!

Just a delight!! Thanks for sharing your joy. I love the #7 (the first on the side mirror), it looks like he should be saying "Wheeeeee......!!! There is a blur of trees in the reflection of the glass that makes the car appear to be moving!

Looks like true love to me, haha!

Enjoying the pics Linth! Don't think you could "over-do" it! This is vertual Birdwatching for a lot of people.

Deb

Definitely!!! Keep em comin PLEASE!!!!! :-)

Wonderful!!

Do you think this is more than one bird, or the same bird?

How many have you seen at one time????

My house is in the middle of a small woods that has lots of shagbark hickory trees, a few walnuts, and some oaks. We see these woodpeckers occasionally, and it is such a treat! We hear them more than see them.... they are very illusive! I saw a post where someone said they saw three at once in a city suburb during an Audobon bird count, and I wondered what in a suburb would attract them. I just cannot imagine seeing three at once. The person is supposed to be a birder or I would wonder if they were identifying the correct bird. Seems so odd to see three in that type of setting. I have always heard that these woodpeckers are only found out where it is quiet and fairly undisturbed, with large areas of woods --- and that they are still fairly rare.

What type of habitat is around your area? Other than cars :-)

The photos are far better than any I have seen in field guides or bird books I have!

Oh, what fantastic pictures! We see very few of them and are not able to get close enough for a pictures. Thank you so much for sharing. I will never tire of seeing these awesome birds!

Fantastic photos!! I have read that these birds often live in communities with as many as 40 of them in large wooded areas of several acres. My first experience was hearing a jungle-like sound. With binoculars I was able to hone in on who the sound was coming from. I have seen several in the wooded areas behind my house. One was absolutely HUGE!

We have PW in our woods...lots of old trees...but I can't imagine getting close enuf to take a picture of one. I sure loved seeing your fantastic pictures, Linth....esp. 7 and 17. Keep them coming...please.
Joyce

LINTH; YOU COULD NOT POSSIBLY "OVERDO". EACH PIC IS JUST AWESOME! THANK YOU FOR SHARING.

After the beloved hummingbirds, Pileated woodpecker are my favorites. Thanks for sharing your photos. We have them in our nearby woods. It is hard to understand how large they can be without a songbird in the pic to compare them to.

I have seen them in groups of 4 or more but I thought it might have been mom and hatchlings.

ROTFLMBO about the PW! How funny is that!!!!?? I wonder if it was a juvenile who didn't know any better? Did you have any dents or holes in your vehicle? Too funny! Great photos! Thanks for posting all of them! Your PW is gorgeous indeed!

YOU HAVE TO LOVE A PW WITH ATTITUDE!

I'm glad you are enjoying the photos.

In answering a few of the questions ... it was a pair of PW's. In one setting, they were both visible at the same time. I didn't observe any damage to the vehicle. There is a small woods behind my property which is where they live.

Since some of you twisted my arm, I'll post a few more.

Photo #22 ....

Photo #23 ...

Photo #24 ....

Photo #25 ....

Do you know if in the Spring, when they sound like a machine gun, is that drumming made for finding a mate? The ones I see nesting are in snags and shouldn't have to drill an entrance.

Photo #26 ....

Photo #27 ...

Photo #28 ....

Photo #29 ... Note the reflections on the windshield and hood.

Photo #30 ..... Peek-a-boo !!!

Those are great, I was wondering about picture #20 where you can see two of them...it appears that the one has it's mouth open like it was being fed, so I thought maybe it was a mom and a younger one...but maybe they are just talking..LOL Wonderful photos!!! Makes me want to run outside and "find" something to take pictures of...LOL
Thanks for sharing!!!

I haven't noticed the P. W. at our car mirrors, but our bluebirds look like they fight the image!

bluegrassmom, the drumming is to attract a mate and/or stake out its territory.

JanetS, photo #20 was taken in 2006. It is a photo of the adult male feeding a young male. I found their nesting tree on what turned out to be the last day that the young one was in the nest. Obviously, I probably missed a lot of photo opportunities at the nesting site. I don't know if they use the same nesting site from year to year but this Spring I will be a little more vigilant. The male incubates the eggs at night and the female incubates them during the day.

That is just awesome!!!

I love the stand up feathers on the young ones head; so cute!

Not only got a shot of my first Pileated today, I got two at the same time!

Congratulations garden!! Nice pic!

Another shot. These stayed here for about ten minutes before flying off.

Nice catch ..... looks like a pair.

Don't let them on your car,lol.

Those pictures on the cars are hilarious! He must think there are more Pileateds EVERYWHERE! I recently saw a Mockingbird doing the same thing at two different locations.

linth: I came back to see your pics again today...and found even more. Great! Thanks. What a BEAUTIFUL bird! I heard one pecking yesterday in our woods and walked toward the sound...I finally saw him pecking on a dead branch. He kept working...but watching me...until I walked a little too close. Then he flew away and I saw him meet up with another PW. (My camera was in the house many yards away. I guess I will have to take it with me when I go near the woods.
Just LOVED your close up pics. Thanks again for sharing them with us.
Joyce

Thanks for pic. Ill be back again to look at them. We have a couple around but never able to get any pic. Dixie

Happy Birthday, Linthicum!

We have them too. They come in for the suet, they seem to like the cherry the best and will eat a whole slice in a day. I see them in the woods too, but harder to get a picture of. Ours are very vocal....you can here the cackling a mile away. I heard that Walter Lance had one outside his window and it was the inspiration for Woody Woodpecker.
I say that they look prehistoric sometimes, with their too small neck and large heads. Once we heard a strange noise in the woods and found a pair in the tree with juvies (about 4). The juvies sounded different than the adults. They are an impressive bird!!!!
You must spend alot of time waiting with the camera to get such good results. Bravo

Great pictures. I heard a funny story today from a friend who has a bird feeder on a wooden post. A pileated woodpecker pecked several big holes in the post, then started taking seeds from the feeder, and deposited them in the holes he had made. I wonder what was going through his bird brain.