pájaro carpintero pilado

1. Nombre del ave
The bird highlighted in this profile is commonly known as the Pileated Woodpecker. The Latin scientific name for this species is Dryocopus pileatus.

2. Aspecto
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest birds inhabiting North American woodlands. It showcases a stunning, bold coloration with its body predominantly covered in black feathers, while the underside of its wings and its abdomen exhibit a crisp white hue. The bird’s beak is chisel-like and robust, perfectly suited to its wood-boring lifestyle. The head is furnished with a flaming red crest, which inspired its name, as ‘pileated’ means ‘capped’. Furthermore, the eyes are a piercing yellow. Interestingly, males and females of this species can be distinguished. Males have a striking red line from the bill to the throat, a feature absent in females.

3. Tamaño
An average Pileated Woodpecker measures around 40 to 49 cm in length and has a wingspan of approximately 66 to 75 cm, comparable to the size of a crow. Typically, they weigh between 250 and 350 grams.

4. Hábitat y distribución
This bird species is indigenous to the continent of North America and can be found across Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific coast. These birds mostly inhabit mature deciduous or mixed deciduous-coniferous woodlands, particularly favoring forests with old trees. They have also adapted effectively to wooded suburban and residential areas.

5. Datos de interés
Pileated Woodpeckers are known for their loud, raucous calls and their signature large, rectangular holes in trees, which they excavate for food and nest cavities. They can be solitary, but often have lifetime mates. Pileated Woodpeckers have also found their way into American pop culture, serving as the inspiration for the famous cartoon character Woody Woodpecker.

6. Dieta
The diet of a Pileated Woodpecker are largely insectivorous, particularly being fond of carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. They also eat fruits, berries, and nuts.

7. Comportamiento y sonidos
These woodpeckers are known for their energetically loud drumming on tree trunks or even metal objects. Their song is a loud, far-reaching laughter-like call, fitting for a bird that has a cartoon character made after it. In terms of behavior, they are known for their large, rectangular excavations into trees when finding food or carving out nesting places.

8. Estado de conservación
The Pileated Woodpecker is classified as being of ‘Least Concern’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. However, loss of their habitat remains a threat.

9. Vida útil
The Pileated Woodpecker typically lives up to 12 years in the wild, although some individuals have been known to live up to 16 years.

10. Notas adicionales
The Pileated Woodpecker plays a crucial ecological role as a ‘keystone species’ for their habitat by creating cavities in trees that are used by various other species for nesting. In terms of human interaction, they usually avoid human contact but have been known to nest in residential areas where tree cover is adequate. In local languages, its French name is “Grand Pic.”