Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

Identification Tips:

• Length: 15 inches
• Very large (crow-sized) black and white woodpecker
• Prominent red crest at rear of head
• White throat
• Entirely black body plumage at rest except a white line that extends from bill down sides of neck to upper flanks
• In flight shows pale bases to primaries on upperwing and entirely white underwing covert

Adult male:

• Red forehead
• Red malar area

Adult female:

• Black forehead
• Black malar stripe

Similar species:

No other living woodpecker could be confused with the Pileated.

Length and wingspan from: Robbins, C.S., Bruun, B., Zim, H.S., (1966). Birds of North America. New York: Western Publishing Company, Inc.