Page 50 - January/February 2023 Outdoor Oklahoma

PILEATED WOODPECKER

WATCHABLE WILDLIFE • BY OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA STAFF

Among the woodland residents of Okla- Its ability to survive in many wooded habi-
homa’s eastern half, perhaps none is more tat types has allowed the species to survive
prominent or dashing than the pileated human habitation in North America much
woodpecker (Hylatomus pileatus). This giant better than the more specialized ivory-billed
of the woodpecker family is known by a vari- woodpecker. Pileated woodpeckers have a
ety of names such as logcock, cock of the large population, and despite being nonmi-
woods, wood hen, great god woodpecker, gratory, are protected under the U.S. Migra-
wood cock, and many others local in nature tory Bird Treaty Act.
and origin. The pileated’s food preferences are con-
The pileated woodpecker is impressive fined entirely to the woods. The bird prob-
in appearance, nearly the size of a crow. It ably does its share of timber conservation,
averages from 15 to 19 inches long and has a however, by destroying countless numbers of
wingspread of 25 to wood-boring larvae, carpenter ants, beetles
The bird probably 30 inches. Its body, and caterpillars. Wild fruits and acorns are
apparently the only vegetable food eaten.
face and wings are
does its share of flashily patterned Huge holes and quantities of large wood
in black and white. chips at the base of a dead tree are often
timber conservation In flight, the white the first signs that the pileated woodpeck-
by destroying undersides of the er inhabits a given area. During the period
wings are visible. of spring courtship, the logcock’s tongue
countless numbers of The top of its head is loosened up considerably and males can

wood-boring larvae, is emblazoned with most often be located by their calls.
a conspicuous fiery Its nest is hollowed out of a dead tree or
carpenter ants, beetles red crest. The sexes tall stump. Occasionally a living tree is used.
and caterpillars. differ only in facial Height of the hole from the ground varies
from 10 to 75 feet, averaging about 40 feet.
markings.
“Pileated” refers The hole itself measures about 3 1/2 inches
to the bird’s prominent red crest, from the in diameter at the entrance and is often as
Latin pileatus meaning “capped.” deep as 3 feet.
The male sports a red mustache, and its The cavity is unlined except for wood
entire crest from forehead to nape is red. The chips. Nesting begins around mid-April. Both
female’s mustache and forehead are black. parents incubate three to five plain white
The young birds resemble the parents in color eggs for 12 to 16 days. The average clutch
and markings. size is four per nest. Pileated woodpeckers
Superior in size and strength, the pileat- have been observed to move to another site
ed’s voice and wood-pecking activities can if any eggs fall out of the nest — a rare habit
be heard at greater distances through the in birds.
woods than those of its woodpecker cousins. Once the brood is raised, the birds
Its ringing-call notes are similar to those of abandon their nest hole and do not reuse
the common flicker. it. Abandoned holes are eagerly taken over
This species maintains a large territory, by squirrels, owls, sparrow hawks and wood
often in excess of 200 acres, and roams over ducks. The oldest known pileated woodpeck-
that area in singles or pairs, looking for food. er was 12 years and 11 months old.

48 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA