July 3, 2022
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Pileated Woodpecker Family 001
This week we had the joy of watching a pair of pileated woodpeckers raise their three babies. They build a nesting cavity high up in an aspen or pine tree. Usually done by the male with the female’s approval. Sometimes she rejects it and he has to build another one. One year I observed a male building three before it was accepted.
This year’s hole you can see is about half way up this aspen. On most occasions they use these one-time and will build a new cavity each spring. Afterwards other critters like squirrels, owls and ducks all benefit from use of the cavity.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 002
The parents feed them inside the cavity for about three weeks. Then the babies are big enough to climb up to the entrance. They feed them by regurgitation. Here you can see dad with wood beetle or carpenter ant larvae. The male has the red mustache and his crest is entirely red. The female’s mustache is dark and the red on her crest only goes halfway.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 003
You would think they would gag when the adults put their long beak down the babies’ throat. The babies are constantly calling for food. They can make quite the ruckus when they see the adult coming. Our granddaughter from Georgia is staying with us for the month and she got to watch them feed. She couldn’t believe how far the adult pushes its beak down the baby’s throat.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 004
Dad leaving the nest after feeding. Both parents incubate the eggs as well and feeding.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 005
Mom leaving the nest. Notice the fecal sack in her mouth. The babies waste comes out in a small little sack so that it is easy to keep the nest clean and disease free. I have noticed that mom cleans the nest after every feeding. Dad, not so much.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 006
In just one week I watched the babies grow enough that they look like adults.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 007
The hungry babies fight with each other for food but the adults seem to make sure that each one gets their share.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 008
The young leave the nest in about four weeks. To get them to fly mom and dad feed them less each day and then stop feeding altogether. The young get pretty upset with mom and dad before hunger makes them jump. After they jump the adults will feed them again and also teach them how to find food on their own.
Pileated Woodpecker Family 009
They can fly pretty good with the first jump and never go back to the nest. It took a little bit of time but I feel fortunate that I have been able to see the first flights of two of the babies.