At an average 18" in length, the pileated is the largest woodpecker in Canada. These colossal birds, with their striking red crest and resemblance to prehistoric pterodactyls in flight, are thought to be the inspiration for the once popular cartoon Woody the Woodpecker. As Woody had his loud laugh, pileated woodpeckers also make noise to match their size. Their drumming, reminiscent of construction machinery, can be heard up to a kilometre away.

It is fairly easy to recognize a pileated woodpecker by its large size and the red crest on its head. The body is predominantly black, with thick black and white stripes reaching from the bill to the wing and chest area. The red 'moustache' along the cheek distinguishes males from females.

Pileated woodpeckers usually mate for life. They lay on average 4 eggs, with both partners sharing nesting duties - from building to incubating to feeding. The parents also do their best to protect their eggs and young from predators such as tree-climbing snakes and have even been known to carry the eggs to another nest if the current one becomes unsuitable. The surviving young leave the parents in the fall of the same year.

Pileated woodpeckers need large uninterrupted patches of woodland, covering territories of 100 to 200 acres. Although found across Canada, except in prairie and northern regions, they are sparsely distributed. These large birds live in older coniferous or deciduous forests - and occasionally in younger forests with old dead trees in it.

Dead or dying trees, stumps, and logs are essential for pileated woodpeckers for nesting, roosting, and feeding. Some suburban areas have enough old trees to attract pileateds. If you would like to entice them to your property, be sure to protect older trees, logs, and stumps wherever possible. If necessary, remove any hazardous dead branches that are in danger of falling and causing damage to people and property.

To identify cavity trees or to discover signs of the presence of pileated woodpeckers, look for large wood chips at, or near, the base of a tree. There are three different types of cavity:

Nesting cavities are typically made in dead wood, 15-70 feet off the ground with a large round or vertically elliptical hole. New holes are made each year, probably to avoid parasites. Holes appear dark, indicating the hollowness inside.

Roosting cavities provide temporary shelter from the elements or protection from predators. Keep your eye out for a tree with several oblong-shaped holes that give the bird many exits in escaping predators.

Feeding cavities are more irregular in shape and rougher around the edges. They tend to appear lighter in colour inside as they don't often lead to hollow chambers. Remember to look for them on fallen logs as well as up in the trees.