Sunday, March 5, 2017

Thankfully Pileated Woodpeckers Aren't Extinct


I remember a few years ago there were reports of a possible sighting of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker which was thought to have been extinct. It must be quite a sight to see a 20" long woodpecker with a 30" wingspan.
We don't have any Woodpeckers quite that large in Connecticut but we do have the Pileated Woodpecker which is about 16" long with a 26" wingspan. One nice thing about Pileated Woodpeckers is that they are definitely not extinct (listed as least concern). They are in fact plentiful, although you do have to be at the right place and right time to get a good look at one. I always take time out to watch them when I come across them because you never know if they might become more scarce in the future. Let's hope not!
Here's a 30 second video

8 comments:

Kay G. said...

I think they called the ivory billed woodpecker the "Good God" bird, because that is the exclamation people would say when they saw it!
I love all the woodpeckers, I have a downy woodpecker on my suet feeder even as I am typing this!

Larry said...

They must have been an amazing sight to see!

Michelle said...

This is a great sighting! We have had a couple of different woodpeckers at our feeders this week. Always glad to see them!

The Furry Gnome said...

One of my favourite birds, thiugh I don't see one very often.

Anna said...

Loved your video ! Been seeing them the last few weeks. Yellow-bellied all day Saturday on a maple tree. Big flock of Cedars on Old Marlborough power lines. Thanks for all the great pictures ! Deb Goodrich

Nadezda said...

What a video, Larry! Thank you!
I'd love this woodpecker come to my garden as well.

troutbirder said...

We rarely have them in our yard but nearby Forestville State Park offers them up year around. Experience tells me one of their favorite foods are the big black carpenter ants on dead trees...:)

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I love these birds ... and hope the population remains on the not-in-danger list forever! I only wish all our birds could be.