Woodpeckers are iconic birds that are easily recognized by their strong, chisel-like bills used for digging into wood and their distinctive undulating flight pattern. Most woodpeckers have striking black and white, red, or yellow plumage. However, there is one species of woodpecker that has plumage similar to that of a blue jay – the Pileated Woodpecker.
The Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a crow-sized woodpecker found in mature forests across much of North America. With its mostly black plumage, bright red crest, white stripes on the face, and loud calls, this striking bird is unmistakable. The male has a red stripe from the bill to the throat, while females have a black stripe in the same location. Both sexes have extensive white stripes on the neck and head. Their dark body plumage is iridescent, showing hints of dark blue when seen in the right light. It is this iridescent blue-black plumage that gives the Pileated Woodpecker an overall resemblance to the blue jay.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the Pileated Woodpecker and its visual similarities to the blue jay. We will cover the Pileated Woodpecker’s identifying features, habitat, diet, behavior, breeding, conservation status, and reasons why its plumage mimics that of a blue jay. Understanding what makes this crow-sized woodpecker stand out will give you an appreciation for its unique appearance among North American woodpeckers.
Identifying Features of the Pileated Woodpecker
The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest woodpecker species found in most forested areas of North America. It has several distinctive identifying features:
Size and Shape
– Length of 16-19 inches (40-48 cm), making it nearly the size of a crow. Its wingspan is about 30 inches (75 cm).
– Large, heavy, chisel-like bill nearly 3 inches long (males have longer bills than females).
– Strong, sturdy body with elongated neck. Angular head shape.
– Long legs and stiff, spiny tail feathers.
Color Pattern
– Mostly black overall, with white and red accents.
– Dark black plumage shows iridescent blue highlights.
– Bright red crest on top of head. Males have a red stripe starting at base of bill.
– White stripes on cheeks and neck. White lines along the face.
– Black wings with white stripes on the underside. White underwing coverts flash in flight.
– White stripe along back divides black upperparts from black tail.
– White lower belly and undertail.
Gender Differences
Males and females look nearly identical except for two differences:
– Males have a red stripe starting at the base of the bill. Females have a black stripe instead.
– Males have longer bills than females, averaging 2.9 inches versus 2.5 inches.
Juvenile Plumage
Juvenile Pileated Woodpeckers resemble the adults, but their plumage is duller overall with less crisp markings. The red crest and facial stripes are less vivid red. Their bills are shorter. After their first year, juveniles molt into adult-like plumage.
Flight and Movement
In flight, the Pileated Woodpecker’s broad wings and white underwings become apparent. Their flight is undulating due to their large size. When perched, they often cock their head to one side. They move along tree trunks with bursts of strong motion, using their stiff tail feathers for support.
Habitat and Range
The Pileated Woodpecker can be found across much of the forested areas of North America. Its habitat and range include:
Habitat
Pileated Woodpeckers predominantly reside in mature deciduous or coniferous forests. They prefer forests with large, old trees and abundant dead and decaying trees which harbor their insect prey. Open woodlands and wooded suburban areas with tall trees also support these woodpeckers.
Range
– Permanent resident across the eastern United States and southeast Canada.
– Along the Pacific coast from southern British Columbia through California.
– Parts of the mountainous western United States.
– Northern forests from Minnesota to New England.
– Rare along the Gulf coast and in the southwest.
– Absent from the treeless prairies and western desert regions.
Within their range, Pileated Woodpeckers are generally uncommon to fairly common depending on the habitat. Big tracts of old-growth forest provide their ideal habitat. Forest fragmentation can reduce their numbers.
Territory Size
Pileated Woodpeckers are non-migratory and remain year-round on their breeding territories. Their territories range from 175-750 acres on average. Males advertise their territories with loud drumming and calls which can be heard from up to a mile away.
Diet
The Pileated Woodpecker is considered a keystone excavator species because their excavations provide nesting and roosting sites for many other species. Their specialized diet also helps distribute resources.
Primary Food Sources
– Wood-boring insects – especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. A dead tree can harbor up to 30,000 carpenter ants.
– Other ants, termites, beetles, caterpillars, insect larvae.
– Some berries, seeds, and nuts (makes up less than 1/3 of diet).
Feeding Behavior
– Uses its powerful bill to hammer, pry, and flake off bark to access insect tunnels.
– Uses its long, barbed tongue to probe deeply into tunnels and lap up ants. Sticky saliva helps grab prey.
– Makes rectangular excavations in dead trees to excavate nests of carpenter ants.
– Males forage higher in trees than females and excavate more often.
– Females tend to forage on the inner bark of dead trees.
– Feeds at all levels from ground to high canopy.
Role as a Keystone Species
Pileated Woodpeckers play an important ecological role by:
– Excavating nesting sites used by many bird and mammal species.
– Creating foraging sites for other insect-eating species.
– Facilitating decay and recycling nutrients into the ecosystem.
– Dispersing fungi spores that break down wood.
– Providing food for predators like falcons, hawks, and owls.
Behavior and Life History
The Pileated Woodpecker exhibits habits typical of most woodpeckers, but its large size and loud vocalizations make it stand apart. Here are some insights into its behavior patterns:
Vocalizations
– Loud, ringing calls – “cuk-cuk-cuk-cuk” – advertising territories or attracting mates. Calls carry up to a mile.
– Powerful hammering on dead branches and trunks creates loud “drumming” display. Has slower cadence than other woodpeckers.
– Males drum more frequently to advertise territories. Peaks during courtship and pair bonding.
– Sharp, loud “kleek” alarm calls when disturbed.
Social Structure
– Usually solitary outside breeding season.
– Monogamous breeding pairs shareduties.
– Offspring from previous year may help new nestlings.
– Young leave parents’ territory after first year.
Daily Movement Patterns
– Year-round residents but make seasonal movements up and down mountains.
– Perch and roost in cavities at night. May excavate a new cavity daily.
– Male calls and drums at dawn to advertise territory ownership.
– Forages actively in early morning and late afternoon.
– Rests during midday – often in a tall snag which provides good visibility.
Seasonal Behaviors
Spring:
– Drumming peaks as males try to attract a mate.
– Excavates a nest cavity in March-May, often in a dead aspen or birch.
– Male helps provide food as female incubates eggs.
Summer:
– Males reduce drumming once paired.
– Both adults feed nestlings in cavity.
– Fledglings can fly about a month after hatching but still beg food.
Fall & Winter:
– Family groups stay together through fall.
– Juveniles then disperse to find their own territories.
– In winter, roosts in tree cavities for warmth at night.
Breeding and Nesting
The Pileated Woodpecker excavates its own nest cavities in dead trees. Here’s a look at its breeding and nesting patterns:
Timing of Breeding Season
– Breeding season lasts from March to early June.
– Usually raise one brood per year. Occasionally two.
– Cavity excavation takes 15-30 days. Egg laying typically late April-May.
Cavity Excavation
– Male and female work together to excavate cavity in dead tree.
– Cavity entrance is 2.5-4 inches wide with tunnel 6-24 inches deep. Often rectangular shape.
– Favored nest trees: aspens, birch, pine, oak. Usually 30+ feet high.
– New cavity excavated each year. Old cavities reused by other species.
Eggs & Incubation
– Clutch size is 2-5 white eggs. Laid over several days.
– Only female incubates. Incubation lasts 18 days.
– Male feeds female during incubation so she rarely leaves nest.
Nestlings
– Helpless young are brooded by female for first week.
– Both parents feed nestlings via regurgitation.
– Nestlings fledge in 26-28 days.
– Parents continue feeding fledglings for 2-3 months after leaving nest.
Nest Sites Rarely Reused
– Pileated woodpeckers rarely reuse their own nest cavities in future years.
– Other wildlife quickly occupy old nest cavities.
– This provides abundant nest sites for secondary cavity nesters like owls, ducks, bats.
Conservation Status and Threats
Thanks to extensive mature forests, the Pileated Woodpecker has a large range and healthy populations. But habitat loss can threaten local populations.
Current Conservation Status
– Considered a Species of Least Concern by IUCN Red List.
– Population Trend: Increasing. Estimated 1.5 million individuals.
– Population Threats: Local rather than widespread.
Factors That May Impact Populations
– Habitat loss from logging of mature forests. Requires large territories.
– Forest fragmentation limits dispersal.
– Fearlessness makes them vulnerable to bullets and car collisions.
– Pesticides reduce insect prey populations.
– Cavity competitors/predators may increase with forest fragmentation.
Ways to Conserve
– Protect large intact forests, especially with older trees and snags.
– Implement sustainable forestry practices near Pileated Woodpecker habitat.
– Leave buffer zones of trees around nest sites when harvesting timber.
– Limit insecticide use in areas near woodpecker habitat.
– Install predator guards on nest holes.
– Report mortalities to wildlife agencies.
Why the Pileated Woodpecker Mimics a Blue Jay
The black, white, and blue plumage of the Pileated Woodpecker does bear a striking resemblance to the blue and black plumage of the blue jay. This is likely not just a coincidence but an evolutionary adaptation. Here are some reasons why the Pileated Woodpecker mimics the blue jay:
Protective Coloration
The blue-black iridescent plumage serves as camouflage, helping the woodpecker blend into the shaded areas and dark cavities of forests. This helps hide them from predators when at rest. The white stripes breaking up their outlines add to the camouflage in dappled light.
Mimicry of Unpalatable Species
The blue jay has bright warning coloration indicating it has an unpleasant taste. By mimicking a blue jay, the Pileated Woodpecker gains some protection, deceiving predators into avoiding it. This form of mimicry is called Batesian mimicry.
Visual Signaling
The bold black, white and red patterns contrast against the blue iridescence and strongly outline the shape of the woodpecker. This conspicuous plumage aids in visual displays between mates and competitors.
| Similarities in Plumage | Blue Jay | Pileated Woodpecker |
|---|---|---|
| Overall dark blue-black body | X | X |
| White stripes on face | X | X |
| White below on belly | X | X |
| White markings on wings | X | X |
| Black-and-white striped back | X | X |
| Bright crest on head | X (red) |
As this comparison shows, the Pileated Woodpecker shares many plumage similarities with the blue jay which likely help it gain some of the same advantages.
Unique Role and Importance
With its large size, distinctive plumage, and unique ecological role, the Pileated Woodpecker is one of the most striking and important woodpecker species found across North America’s forests:
Keystone Excavator Species
Its excavations provide crucial nesting and roosting sites for numerous other species. Few other animals create cavities on the same large scale.
Primary Wood Decomposer
It facilitates decay and nutrient cycling in forests. Other wildlife depend on the carpenter ants and beetles it exposes.
Indicator of Mature Forests
Its presence signifies a healthy forest ecosystem with older trees and abundant dead wood.
Gateway Experience to Birding
Its flashy looks and loud calls provide many people’s first introduction to woodpeckers. It can spark a lifelong interest in birds.
Cultural Symbol
Often considered the “Lord God Bird” or “Good God Bird”, it has symbolic importance in some Native American cultures.
When you hear the unmistakable call or catch a glimpse of a large black woodpecker winging through the forest, it’s likely the one-of-a-kind Pileated – an important forest bird that stands apart even among its own kind. Check for that blue sheen to the black feathers and you’ll see the only woodpecker playing copycat with the blue jays.
Conclusion
The Pileated Woodpecker is visually reminiscent of a blue jay thanks to its extensive blue-black plumage accented with white stripes. This mimetic coloration likely helps it blend into shaded forest environments, mimic distasteful species, and create visual displays. While superficially similar, the Pileated Woodpecker fills a unique ecological role as a keystone excavator of nesting cavities and facilitator of wood decay. Its specialized traits, loud calls, and striking beauty solidify its status as one of the most iconic and important woodpecker species found across North America’s forests. So next time you see a too-large blue jay drilling on a tree, take a closer look – it’s really the one-of-a-kind Pileated Woodpecker.
