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Cavity Nester
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
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Dryocopus pileatus
The largest woodpecker in North America, crow-sized with a flaming red crest. The huge rectangular excavations it leaves in dead trees are diagnostic even when the bird isn't visible.
Widespread and abundant; no known immediate threats to the population.
The largest North American woodpecker by a wide margin, adult length 16–19 inches, weight up to a full pound.
Excavates rectangular foraging holes in dead trees, often 6+ inches across, in pursuit of carpenter ant colonies.
Pairs hold huge territories of 100+ acres of mature forest and stay together year-round.
Old Pileated nest cavities become home to over a dozen other species. Wood ducks, owls, flying squirrels, martens, making them keystone cavity providers.
Resident across the eastern US, southern Canada, and the Pacific Northwest in mature forests.
Year-round from the southeastern US north through New England and the Great Lakes into southern Canada.
Common in old-growth forests of Washington, Oregon, and northern California.
Northern limit reaches central Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec.
This species needs a box larger or differently-shaped than our three standard sizes. We make these as one-off prints to the published nest dimensions, with all the species-specific requirements baked in.
Excavates a fresh cavity each season, boxes may be ignored in favour of natural snags.