Once very rare due to habitat destruction, the species is making a comeback. These smart birds have learned that if they can just peel away this surface layer of bark, they can often reveal the hidden homes of beetles, termites, and other small insects. Build a platform bird feeder – free woodworking plans, Covered platform hen feeder plan. These birds can also be attracted with a simple basket type suet feeder as long as there is a way for them to perch and reach it. Build it with cedar, pine or most any softwood. Tips From Two Famous Examples! Pileateds can be a tricky bird to bring in and don’t get disappointed if your first attempt with putting up feeders doesn’t work. And here are a few more options from the Cornell Bird Lab that do a good job of bringing these birds in close. Another option is to create a natural feeding station. It is mainly black with patches/white stripes on its, neck, wings, and head. And, if they ‘drill’ even further, they can find the delicious larvae that is often laid in the cambium layer of the tree. Oops! we get our pictures from another websites, search engines and other sources to use as an inspiration for you. The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America measuring 16 – 19″ inches long and an average weight of 250-350 grams. There they poke their treasure in between pieces of bark. Do Squirrels Migrate Or Stay In One Place? Because we know that finding food is such a high priority for Pileated Woodpeckers, step one in attracting them is going to be creating an environment that advertises, “Food here!”. In general these are shy birds but with a little patience and planning you might be able to get them to land and feed on your back deck! Leaving dead or downed trees on your property (if safe) may increase your chances of attracting a Pileated Woodpecker. Can Squirrels Be Trained? All of these pieces are set with the long sides vertically and quick sides flat. BE AWARE THAT HABITAT TYPE MORE THAN ANY OTHER FACTOR, WILL IN MOST CASES, DICTATE THE SPECIES OF BIRD THAT VISIT YOUR PROPERTY. However, locating and consuming their food is something that requires a fair amount of work for the Pileated Woodpecker, which is where the woodpecking comes into play. Place the suet, available at most pet stores or supermarkets, into the wire basket. The pileated woodpecker, or Dryocopus pileatus, measures over 15 inches and is a striking sight. Mating, pairing, and nest-building activity for Pileated Woodpeckers takes place in the Spring and Summer months, with fledgelings reaching flight maturity by about September. If we can better understand their foraging, mating, and nesting behavior, we can develop strategies for enticing them. Pileated Woodpecker Birdhouse Plans Build the pileated woodpecker birdhouse with cedar, pine or most any softwood. Choose wood stock that is rough-cut on both sides so birds can grip interior and exterior surfaces. Most of the delectable food that Pileated Woodpeckers enjoy is located just beneath the bark layer of trees or tree stumps that have begun to decay. Pileated Woodpeckers are a unique and majestic sight to behold: their bold, red head plumage and trademark, black-and-white patterning make them very easy to identify in densely wooded areas throughout the eastern United States and in most of Canada. If you do not have trees that are suitable for cavity excavation then consider putting up a nesting box. Since pileated woodpeckers are shy birds, place it in a secluded spot away from other bird feeders. Learning the Pileated Woodpecker call (which is unmistakable) can help in locating the bird. In this article, we’ll be taking a close look at the dietary and nesting preferences of the Pileated Woodpecker, and we’ll be using those preferences as the basis for some suggestions about actions you can take to attract more Pileated Woodpeckers to your property.