Stopping For Pileated Woodpeckers Only

 I decided to work off a few holiday calories with a brisk Christmas day hike through Wadsworth Park. I did have my camera and binoculars but vowed not to stop unless I came across an owl, a rare bird,or a Pileated Woodpecker.

 Well, so much for the exercise. I actually encountered 3 Pileated Woodpeckers. They had a loud squabble and 2 of them flew off.  This photo shows how woodpeckers use their tail for balance.

 You can tell this is a male by the red malar stripe and the entirely red crest. Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpecker species in Connecticut  at about 16" in length.

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