Pileated woodpeckers are large, crow-sized woodpeckers that inhabit forests across much of North America. They are powerful birds that use their chisel-like bills to hammer away at dead trees and logs in search of carpenter ants and other wood-boring insects that make up the bulk of their diet. One of the first things most people notice about these charismatic birds is the loud, hammering noise they make as they feed. Their drumming can resonate through the forest, grabbing the attention of ornithologists and birders from a great distance. But why do pileated woodpeckers make so much noise compared to other woodpecker species? There are several key reasons these birds are so vocal and noisy as they go about their daily business.
Drumming as Communication
One of the primary reasons pileated woodpeckers make loud drumming sounds is to communicate. Both males and females drum frequently and for a variety of reasons. Drumming serves many of the same communication functions as bird song in other avian species. Drumming conveys territorial signals, aids in attracting a mate, helps maintain the pair bond, and announces the location of a nest or roost site. The rolling drumbeats of a pileated woodpecker can be heard up to a mile away by other birds. Each bird has its own distinctive drumming pattern and rhythm which may allow individual identification between pairs and family groups. The louder and longer the pileated can drum, the farther its message carries through the forest.
Making a Cavity Nest
Another reason pileated woodpeckers make a lot of noise is that they build nesting and roosting cavities by excavating dead trees with their bills. They need very large cavity holes to fit their relatively large size. The entrance hole of a pileated nest is typically 3 inches across or more. Building a cavity of this size takes a lot of work and results in loud hammering that can last for up to 30 days as they create their nest. Cavities are often reused year after year and may be the product of many generations of excavation work. The work doesn’t stop after the nest is built either. Pileated woodpeckers often build multiple roosting cavities in their territory which they use at night or between periods of foraging.
Finding Food
Pileated woodpeckers also make a lot of noise as they forage. They use their chisel-like bill to hammer, pry, and flake away at wood in search of food. Dead or dying trees often have large numbers of carpenter ants or wood-boring beetle larvae just under the bark or in the heartwood. Pileated woodpeckers use their drumming to probe for hidden food sources and excavate them. The louder the woodpecker hammers away, the larger the area the sound covers, allowing more opportunity to scare up concealed insects. The pileated’s powerful hammering can provide access to wood-boring insects other smaller birds could never reach. Their drumming and noise-making essentially allow them to pursue a food source most other species can’t exploit.
Adaptations for Drumming
Several anatomical and physiological adaptations enable pileated woodpeckers to make their incredibly loud hammering sounds without injuring themselves. These adaptations include:
- Specialized feathers cover their nostrils to keep out wood dust.
- A thick, spongy skull provides cushioning for their brain.
- Their uniquely structured neck vertebrae and muscles help absorb mechanical shock.
- A chisel-tipped bill made of Keratin, the same material as human fingernails, allows them to hammer on hardwood without damage.
These specializations enable pileated woodpeckers to make loud, rapid drumming sounds as part of their normal behaviour. Most birds would injure themselves attempting something similar. But for the pileated woodpecker, loud hammering is just part of an average day in the forest.
Benefits of Loud Drumming
Why do pileated woodpeckers drum so loudly when a lower volume would still communicate over shorter distances? There are several advantages to broadcasting their presence as widely as possible:
- Loud drumming declares a pair’s territory across a larger area, reducing potential conflicts with neighboring pileateds.
- Louder drumming has a better chance of reaching the ears of potential mates farther away.
- Loud calls letting offspring and others know locations of roost and nest sites.
- Drumming carries farther through dense forest habitats.
- An advertising display that may indicate fitness to potential mates.
Essentially, louder drumming allows each bird to communicate vital information over the maximum possible distance in its forest home. Natural selection likely favored those individuals that could drum the loudest and advertise themselves over the widest area. Over many generations, the pileated’s anatomy and behavior evolved to allow the remarkably loud hammering they are known for today.
Drumming Recordings
The following table provides audio recordings of the drumming sound made by pileated woodpeckers:
| Recording # | Audio Link |
|---|---|
| 1 | Recording #1 |
| 2 | Recording #2 |
| 3 | Recording #3 |
Comparison to Other Woodpeckers
Pileated woodpeckers stand out from other woodpecker species in terms of their sheer volume. They have some of the loudest and most frequent drumming of any North American woodpecker. Here’s how they compare to others:
| Species | Average Volume | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Flicker | Moderate volume | Drumming is fast and high-pitched |
| Downy Woodpecker | Low volume | Drumming is a short, fast roll |
| Pileated Woodpecker | Very loud | Slow, heavy drumming |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Fairly quiet | Irregular, Morse code-like drumming |
| Red-headed Woodpecker | Moderate Volume | Short, punctuated rolls |
The pileated’s drumming stands out as by far the loudest and most far-carrying of North American woodpecker species. The strength and stamina required to drum for long periods at high volume likely deters smaller woodpecker species from even attempting to compete. Loud noise-making is simply part of what it means to be a pileated woodpecker.
Conclusion
In summary, pileated woodpeckers are among the noisiest birds in North American forests because their biology and behavior have evolved to take advantage of loud drumming sounds. The powerful hammering serves several purposes for the birds, including communication of territory and resources, attracting a mate, making nest cavities, and finding food sources. Their specialized anatomy allows them to make noise safely at volumes most species couldn’t match. All in all, the pileated’s characteristic loud drumming and hammering helps ensure their success and survival in forest ecosystems across the continent. Though they may seem like noisy neighbors, their drumming is an integral part of their role in woodland habitats.
