Pileated Male 1

As the days get warmer the male pileated (Minnesota’s largest woodpecker) starts to drum. Drumming consists of rapping on a dry hollow tree which produces a very pleasant sound that can carry as far as a half mile.

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Pileated Male 2

They use several different trees and each tree has its own distinctive sound. We have a pileated that has established his territory right behind our house and this week his drumming could be heard almost every hour.

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Pileated Male 3

Pileateds drum to let other male pileated woodpeckers know that this is their territory and to keep their distance. They also want to attract the female. This morning I could hear the female answering several times. The male drummed on several trees bordering the edge of his territory and then flew back to the hollow tree near our house.

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Pileated Male 4

He must have had his mind on the female as he paid me no attention when I set up the camera and took some photos of him. He acted as though I didn’t exist. I guess I’m not as attractive as a female pileated.

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