Eastern U.S., southeastern Canada, west coast of U.S., portions of central Canada
FOOD:
Omnivore - carpenter ants,
other insects, fruit
PREDATORS:
Large birds of prey
HABITAT:
Forests, large forested parks
DESCRIPTION
If you hear a rhythmic chop-chop-chop in the
forest, it might not be someone cutting down a tree. Instead, it might be a pileated
woodpecker looking for its lunch.
A pileated woodpecker may be as large as two feet
long.
Like its smaller relative, the downy woodpecker,
the pileated woodpecker is well adapted to digging insects out from deep within trees.
Their tongues are long and shaped like spears.
The holes they leave behind are large enough to
make handy homes for other birds and animals.
