Pileated Woodpecker
Recognition
A blackish or dark greenish bird with a large red crest, the male has a red mustache which the female lacks. The bill is grey in color.These birds are about 18 inches in length. Look for the white on the wings when in flight.
Where seen
I have seen these birds on Sanibel and Captiva Island and once saw one trying to attack a concrete lamp post just by the sales office. There is a resident pair around by the storage area on Thomas Jefferson.
Jimmy’s notes
These birds are almost the size of a crow and can be heard drumming on trees at a distance. When in flight they fly up and down in a V shape. They are often seen in pairs going up and down the trunks of trees. The crest stands out like a sore thumb. This woodpecker is the largest found in Florida. It gets its name from the latin” pileatus” meaning “capped”
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