Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpeckers are quite a common sight at Killbear Provincial Park and often heard early in the morning. They are common visitors to the beaver pond area.

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the Continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest.

Look for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. 

The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens. Cornell All About Birds

Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpeckers are quite common at Killbear Provincial Park.

Their drumming and calls are quite frequent in the park and are a pleasure to hear when hanging out at the beaver pond early in the morning.

We've observed Pileated Woodpeckers at numerous places in Ontario and they will be a part of future blogs featuring the woodpeckers we have seen around the world.