Logging activities in the 19th and early 20th centuries impacted population numbers, but the species has rebounded and is not endangered. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. The pileated woodpecker's breeding habitat is forested areas across Canada, the eastern United States, and parts of the Pacific Coast. For . Because of its size and chisel-shaped bill, this woodpecker is particularly adept at excavating, and it uses this ability to construct nests and roost cavities and to find food. Free-flying adults have fewer predators, but can be taken in some numbers by Cooper's hawks, northern goshawks, red-shouldered hawks, red-tailed hawks, great horned owls, bald eagles, golden eagles and barred owls.[19]. Cartoonist Walter Lantz is believed to have based the appearance of his creation, Woody Woodpecker on the pileated woodpecker; while patterning the call on the acorn woodpecker. They are self-assured on the vertical surfaces of large trees, but can seem awkward while feeding on small branches and vines. Lantz's wife Gracie suggested that Walter make a cartoon character of the bird and so Woody was created. ADW doesn't cover all species in the world, nor does it include all the latest scientific information about organisms we describe. Pileated woodpeckers mainly eat insects, especially carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. When does the pileated woodpecker leave the nest? After locating a prospective nesting site typically a hole bored into the trunk of a tree male and female pileated woodpeckers tap and drum on the wood to spark the courtship process. . They make impressive rectangular excavations that can be a foot or more long and go deep inside the wood. Genus: Dryocopus Species Dryocopus pileatus Common name Pileated woodpecker Lifespan, ageing, and relevant traits Maximum longevity 13 years (wild) Source ref. Northwestern Naturalist 73:42-45. Pileated Woodpeckers occur at all heights in the forest, and are often seen foraging on logs and near the bases of trees. In April, the hole made by the male attracts a female for mating and raising their young. They may also forage on or near the ground, especially around fallen, dead trees, which can contain a variety of insect life. The call rises and falls in pitch and volume and can be heard across long distances. NPS Klamath Inventory & Monitoring Network Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, New York, USA. The birds also use their long, barbed tongue to extract woodboring beetle larvae (which can be more than an inch long) or termites lying deep in the wood. Their population is steadily increasing, and they are listed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Roost trees tend to have multiple entrances to allow birds to escape predators. Catesby used the English name "The larger red-crested Wood-pecker" and the Latin Picus niger maximus capite rubro. [21] The oldest known pileated woodpecker was 12 years and 11 months old. Habitat The pileated woodpecker lives in coniferous and deciduous forests. 1993. The Pileated Woodpecker has a bright red crest at the top of its head. Adult males have a red line from the bill to the throat; in adult females these are black. They specifically prefer mesic habitats with large, mature hardwood trees, often being found in large tracts of forest. Pileated woodpeckers have large home ranges within which they meet their life requisites. However, there are many products now on the market to prevent or repair this damage. You make the call compare Woody with both species below! Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical. and across multiple seasons (or other periods hospitable to reproduction). Beckwith, R.C., Scat Analysis of the arthropod of the Pileated Woodpecker diet. The cartoon connection is a bit more involved. Population Regulation. What is the difference between a male pileated woodpecker and a female pileated woodpecker? The Pileated Woodpecker is surprisingly tolerant of human changes to the landscape and has adapted well to suburban and even urban habitats as long as there are enough mature trees and snags for nesting and feeding. Bearded Dragon Quiz How Much Do You Know? Neitro, W. A., V. W. Binkley, S. P. Cline, R. W. Mannan, B. G. Marcot, D. Taylor, and F. F. Wagner. State of Michigan List: no special status, IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern. Most species live only one to two years, and a newly imported octopus may have just weeks left. The birds skull and neck are reinforced, allowing it to peck away at wood for extended periods of time. It is most commonly pronounced with the first syllable sounding like pie, which rhymes with why. However, the first syllable is sometimes pronounced like pill, which rhymes with will.. Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; oviparous, The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, mostly black woodpecker native to North America. The pileated woodpecker also nests in boxes about 4.6 m (15 ft) off the ground. The largest of the North American common woodpeckers, pileated woodpeckers are birds that are easy to recognize thanks to the distinctive red crests atop their heads. 1992a. If the collective area of these retained forest tracts is large enough, suburban and other urbanizing environments could support pileated woodpeckers. The average clutch size is four per nest. Wildlife Habitats and Species Associations in Oregon and Washington: Building a Common Understanding for Management. In young forests, it will use any large trees remaining from before the forest was cut. There is 1 species of Pileated Woodpecker. Accessible at www.xeno-canto.org/560602.). [16] From 1966 to 2015 the population of pileated woodpecker has, on average, increased by greater than 1.5% per year throughout the northeastern U.S., the Maritimes, the Ohio River Valley, and around the Great Lakes.[17]. Other woodpeckers and smaller birds such as wrens may be attracted to pileated holes to feed on the insects found in them. What is the wingspan of the pileated woodpecker? [9][10][11] The northern subspecies is generally slightly larger than the southern. . When one member of a pair dies, the other often gains a new mate, and this is one of the main ways that new individuals get a chance to breed and hold a territory. What is another name for the Pileated Woodpecker? Population Increasing: Their populations declined during the 19th and early 20th centuries due to logging activity, but efforts to restore woodland areas and the birds general adaptability have caused their numbers to increase steadily. It will defend the territory in all seasons, but will tolerate new arrivals during the winter. Grants DRL 0089283, DRL 0628151, DUE 0633095, DRL 0918590, and DUE 1122742. It is the largest extant woodpecker species in North America, with the possible exception of the ivory-billed woodpecker, which the U.S. [18] The oldest known pileated woodpecker was 12 years and 11 months old. solutions to keep birds from hitting windows. ____, and ____. In flight, large, white underwing patches show. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus), version 1.0. Note that images and other media featured on this page are each governed by their own license, and they may or may not be available for reuse. Renken, R.B., Wiggers E. P., Habitat Characteristics related to Pileated Woodpecker densities in Missouri. Pileated Woodpeckers are monogamous and hold large territories; its rare to see more than two birds together at a time. Geographic range Pileated Woodpeckers sometimes visit backyard bird feeders, especially for suet. Chesser, R. T., S. M. Billerman, K. J. Burns, C. Cicero, J. L. Dunn, B. E. Hernndez-Baos, R. A. Jimnez, A. W. Kratter, N. A. Mason, P. C. Rasmussen, J. V. Remsen, Jr., D. F. Stotz, and K. Winker. Average mass: 364 g. Source: 1985. ____, R. C. Beckwith, and R. S. Holthausen. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. The Birder's Handbook. Thesis, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA. It resembles the closely related pileated woodpecker ( Dryocopus pileatus) of United States and Canada . Because of its size and chisel-shaped bill, this woodpecker is particularly adept at excavating, and it uses this ability to construct nests and roost cavities and to find food. 21 April 2003 Link (2019). Dryocopus pileatus pileatus , Rockwoods Reservation, Wildwood, Missouri, USA Dryocopus pileatus pileatus , Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, USA Dryocopus pileatus distribution map Taxonavigation . The roost of a pileated woodpecker usually has multiple entrance holes. Map by Birds of the World, maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. A permanent resident of deciduous or coniferous forests in southern Canada and in the western, midwestern, and eastern United States. 2003. The cavity is unlined except for wood chips. When abandoned, these holesmade similarly by all woodpeckersprovide good homes in future years for many forest songbirds and a wide variety of other animals. Some robust common species, such as the California two . Download a pdf of this article. Biogeographic Regions: atlantic ocean (Native ). (Audio of Woody Woodpecker by Universal Studios & Walter Lantz Productions; Audio of Pileated Woodpecker by J.R. Rigby, XC290154. As they work, they occasionally toss piles of wood chips onto the ground, and they line their nests with some of the chips too. The cavity is unlined except for wood chips. Occasionally bats and swifts share roost cavities with Pileated Woodpeckers. 1250 Siskiyou Blvd On average, this woodpecker is 16 to 19 inches long and weighs between 8.8 to 12.3 ounces. Ashland, OR 97520 Female side-blotched lizards can produce as many as eight clutches with up to eight eggs per clutch! Accessed Typically roost in hollow trees with multiple entrances. They prefer old-growth forests with standing dead trees and fallen logs, which they bore at and probe with their barbed tongues while searching for food. What does a pileated woodpecker sound like? 21 April 2003 Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon, USA. Geography Launch Interactive Map . Nest trees are typically dead and within a mature or old stand of coniferous or deciduous trees, but may also be in dead trees in younger forests or even in cities. A particularly clear recording of the drumming sound on a living tree. They range from northern California up into Canada and back down into much of the eastern U.S., wherever big trees and decaying wood are found. Our site uses cookies to collect anonymous information about your use of our website. They are found at all heights of the forest, and they sometimes forage in dead logs on the ground. Prepared by Sonya Daw American Bird Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) organization. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. New York. Adults are mainly black above, with a red crest and whitish lines from the base of the bill, down the neck and shoulders (though individuals from the south-eastern part of its range commonly lack the line on the shoulders). Studies within the Pacific Northwest indicate that home range size may vary from 1000 acres to over 2000 acres. They breed in the forests of Canada, Eastern USA, and on the Pacific coast. Pileated woodpeckers also eat many other types of insects along with nuts and seeds. Have some feedback for us? Thank you for reading! . With flashing black-and-white wings and a bright red crest, when a crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker swoops by, even the most experienced birders stop in their tracks. [4] The specific epithet pileatus is a Latin word meaning "-capped". Predators at their nesting sites include squirrels, weasels, rat snakes, and gray foxes.Human activity poses threats for these woodpeckers, and they are often killed from collisions with glass windows and doors. The wing chord measures 21.4 to 25.3 cm (8.4 to 10.0 in), the tail measures 14.0 to 17.4 cm (5.5 to 6.9 in), the bill is 4.1 to 6.0 cm (1.6 to 2.4 in) and the tarsus measures 3.1 to 3.8 cm (1.2 to 1.5 in). Pileated Woodpeckers dont line their nests with any material except for leftover wood chips. Pileated Woodpecker nestlings. Rep. PSW-GTR-181" (On-line). English: Pileated Woodpecker (abieticola) French: Grand Pic (abieticola) Authorities recognizing this taxonomic concept: American Ornithologists' Union 2nd edition (incl. Younger specimens tend to have less curved crests, or "mohawks" as some refer to them. Library of Congress. Pairs of Pileated Woodpeckers establish territories and remain all year. Drumming is most common during courtship and to proclaim a territory. By 2 to 3 weeks, nestlings cuk from within the nest. Dryocopus pileatus is oviparous, its incubation period is approximately 12-14 days. Was Woody Woodpecker a pileated? Its ability to survive in many wooded habitat types has allowed the species to survive human habitation of North America much better than the more specialized ivory-billed woodpecker. However, there are many products now on the market to prevent or repair this damage. These holes pursue the tunnels of carpenter ants, the woodpeckers primary food. differences between the ivory-billed woodpecker and the pileated woodpecker, The 7 Best Pet Products on Amazon This March, The 6 Best Chicken and Farm Productson Chewy Today. Pileated woodpeckers are non-migratory birds and therefore dont follow migratory patterns. Pileated woodpeckers also need trees big enough to contain the large nest cavities they excavate. Although they are less likely feeder visitors than smaller woodpeckers, pileateds may regularly be attracted to them in areas experiencing harsh winter conditions. Coniferous or deciduous forest. The male has a red, tufted cap, a red moustache, and its body is mostly black with white striping on the face; white wing-lining is observable in flight. The pileated woodpecker is a crow-sized bird with a mostly charcoal-gray colored body. The nest holes these birds . Adults are 40 to 49cm (16 to 19in) long, span 66 to 75cm (26 to 30in) across the wings, and weigh 225 to 400g (7.9 to 14.1oz). Both parents incubate eggs alternately during the day; the male incubates at night. Like the western fence lizards, side-blotched lizards start breeding in mid to late March, lay eggs a few weeks later, and these eggs hatch after 1.5-2 months. ABC has a number of programs in place to reduce these threats, including our Cats Indoors program, which encourages pet owners to keep cats and birds safe, and our Glass Collisions program. Pileated woodpeckers lay 1 to 6 eggs/clutch; the eggs are white in coloration and are about 1.3 inches in length and 1 inch in breadth. Pileated woodpeckers are mainly black with a red crest, and have a white line down the sides of the throat. They defend the territory in all seasons, but tolerate floaters during the winter. Thats especially when one focuses on their activities during nest building, facial markings, and crest. Throughout their range, pileated woodpeckers use large snags and large decaying live trees for nesting and roosting, features that are more abundant in older forests. USDA Forest Service Publication Number R6-F&WL-192-1985, Portland, Oregon, USA. Number 148 in A. Poole and F. Gill, editors. They show white on the wings in flight. AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact. What is the difference between a pileated woodpecker and an ivory-billed woodpecker? Pages 67-73 in L. W. Adams and D. L. Leedy, editors. Selection of nest and roost trees by pileated woodpeckers in coastal forests of Washington. It is often referred to as a "keystone species" because it creates nesting cavities used by other forest wildlife species,such as Barrows goldeneyeand flammulated owlThe availability of large snags (standing dead trees) and large decaying live trees used for nesting and roosting by pileated woodpeckers has declined in many areas as a result of forest conversion (such as the removal of forest for urban development) and timber management practices. Most nest cavities are observed in hard snags (sound wood) with intact bark and broken tops, or live trees with dead tops. Damage to Environment: Sometimes, these woodpeckers pecking activity causes serious damage to trees. Accessed Bull, E. L. 1987. Other woodpeckers, as well as House Wrens, may come and feed there. They use their display drum, consisting of a burst of 11 to 30 taps all performed in less than a second to establish these territories, which extend over several hundred acres on average. Kingdom Animalia animals. Sibley, D. A. [12] The only North American birds of similar plumage and size were the ivory-billed woodpecker of the southeastern United States and Cuba, and the related imperial woodpecker of Mexico, both of which have been declared probably extinct. Known predators include the northern goshawk, Cooper's hawk, red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, American martin, and gray fox. Ecology of pileated woodpeckers in managed landscapes on the Olympic Peninsula. Dryocopus pileatus is one of 14 species of woodpeckers in British Columbia (Family Picidae) (Fenneman & Toochin 2017). Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed be reclassified as extinct. Because of its size and chisel-shaped bill, this woodpecker is particularly adept at excavating, and it uses this ability to construct nests and roost cavities and to find food. They can also be found in younger forests that have scattered, large, dead trees or a ready supply of decaying, downed wood. Sheep Quiz: Test What You Know About These Horned Animals! Washington Department of Natural Resources, Olympia, Washington, USA. However, the adult females forehead has a brownish color while the forehead of the male is bright scarlet. On average, it attains a length of 16 to 19 inches and weighs an average of 8.8 to 12.3 ounces. Geographically speaking, pileated woodpeckers are birds that are mostly found in the eastern U.S. and southern Canada. Pileated woodpeckers have a large population size, and despite being nonmigratory, are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. Although it remains widespread and fairly common, this bird faces the same threats as less-adaptable species, particularly predation by cats and collisions with glass. In some diet studies, ants constituted 40 percent of the diet, and up to 97 percent in some individuals. Rohila, C. M. 2002. In April, the hole made by the male attracts a female for mating and raising their young. Since they are non-migratory birds, they can be found throughout the year. In the United States, only the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, likely extinct, was bigger. This species became rare in eastern North America with clearing of forests in centuries past, but has gradually . Habitat use and management of pileated woodpeckers in northeastern Oregon. 2001. Kilham (1979) reported that eggs were unattended for up to 20 minutes in the first few days; attended nearly 100% of the time after that. "Pileated" refers to the bird's prominent red crest, from the Latin pileatus meaning "capped". The pileated woodpecker occupies a large range and is quite adaptable. Both sexes help build a new nest cavity each year, typically in a dead or decaying tree. But credit is due to to the Pileated Woodpecker as well: Woody's shaggy red top-knot much more closely resembles a Pileated Woodpecker, and the cartoon character's characteristic laugh, originally voiced by Mel Blanc of Warner Brothers fame, sounds more like a Pileated Woodpecker's call as well. It is illegal to harm or remove the birds without a permit. Sauer, J. R., D. K. Niven, J. E. Hines, D. J. Ziolkowski Jr., K. L. Pardieck, J. E. Fallon, and W. A. While the large birds control many insect populations, especially tree beetles, that may otherwise experience outbreaks, some people may consider them harmful if found on their property due to the considerable damage that pileated woodpeckers can do to trees and homes. Throughout their range, Pileated Woodpeckers can also be found in suburban areas with large trees and patches of woodland.Back to top. Brown, E. R., technical editor. Bull, E.L., Jackson, J.A., Birds of North America. A big, dashing bird with a flaming crest, the largest woodpecker in North America (except the Ivory-bill, which is almost certainly extinct). WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. It's nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. The train contains ocelli which are the eye shaped markings. Ehrlich, P. R., D. S. Dobkin, and D. Wheye (1988). Iteroparous animals must, by definition, survive over multiple seasons (or periodic condition changes). The woodpeckers forage in forests containing large trees and snags that support abundant insect prey associated with dead and dying wood. Prefers to nest in mesic areas, close to streams; selects stands with greatest basal area, greatest density of stems, and highest crown canopy. Dryocopus pileatus is oviparous, its incubation period is approximately 12-14 days. Peafowl have an average lifespan of twenty years. The Pileated Woodpecker uses its long, extensible, pointed tongue with barbs and sticky saliva to catch and extract ants from tunnels. Also, this woodpecker may be a keystone species because its nest excavations provide habitat for many other species (Aubrey and Raley, 2002). While increased protection for decadent older forests has stabilized Pacific Northwest populations, Audubon climate change models project a northward shift for this species. The Pileated Woodpeckers primary food is carpenter ants, supplemented by other ants, woodboring beetle larvae, termites, and other insects such as flies, spruce budworm, caterpillars, cockroaches, and grasshoppers. Explore solutions to keep birds from hitting windows. A strong flyer with slightly undulating strong flight; flight is rather slow but vigorous and direct. Featured Creature Edition: October 2019, Crater Lake National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument, Oregon Caves National Monument & Preserve, Redwood National and State Parks, [6] The pileated woodpecker is now one of six species placed in the genus Dryocopus that was introduced by the German naturalist Friedrich Boie in 1826.[7][8]. Dryocopus pileatus. Available at: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22681363A92903232.en, https://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/, http://datazone.birdlife.org/userfiles/file/Species/Taxonomy/HBW-BirdLife_Checklist_v7_Dec22.zip, "More Pileated Woodpeckers: Emerald Ash Borer or Healthier Habitat? Predators at the nest can include American martens, weasels, squirrels, rat snakes, and gray foxes. ____, and R. S. Holthausen. In The Birds of North America (P. G. Rodewald, editor). forest biomes are dominated by trees, otherwise forest biomes can vary widely in amount of precipitation and seasonality. Down logs as habitat for forest-dwelling ants - the primary prey of pileated woodpeckers in northeastern Oregon. They also eat fruits, nuts, and berries, including poison ivy berries. While the large birds control many insect populations, especially tree beetles, that may otherwise experience outbreaks, some people may consider them harmful if found on their property due to the considerable damage that pileated woodpeckers can do to trees and homes. The Pileated Woodpecker uses its long, extensible, pointed tongue with barbs and sticky saliva to catch and extract ants from tunnels. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. For the largest woodpecker in the country, the pileated woodpecker is surprisingly hard to see. However, it is protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Act. animals that use metabolically generated heat to regulate body temperature independently of ambient temperature. The winter range is also the same. Donate to support ABC's conservation mission and have your gift matched 1:1 now! Sleeps or roosts in cavity at night. The female has the same markings as the male except for a slightly smaller red cap and no red moustache. This woodpecker has a loud, high-pitched, repetitive callwuka wuka wuka wuka wuka. The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, mostly black woodpecker native to North America. It is the largest confirmed extant woodpecker species in North America, with the possible exception of the ivory-billed woodpecker, which the U.S. Aubry, K. B., and C. M. Raley. ____, ____, and M. G. Henjum. Hylatomus pileatusLinnaeus, 1758 The pileated woodpecker(Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, mostly black woodpeckernative to North America. Ecology of the pileated woodpecker in northeastern Oregon. Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) Diet Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. 1992. They also glean (pick) insects off branches and scale bark off trees in search of food. The roost of a pileated woodpecker usually has multiple entrance holes. Younger specimens tend to have less curved crests, or "mohawks" as some refer to them. They prefer to inhabit old-growth forests with plenty of dead, standing trees, and they are famous for leaving rectangular holes in trees while searching for their favorite food carpenter ants. HBW and BirdLife International (2022) Handbook of the Birds of the World and BirdLife International digital checklist of the birds of the world. Pages 4-24 in C. Maser, R. F. Tarraut, J. M. Trappe, and J. F. Franklin, technical editors. An insectivore, it inhabits deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific Coast. Ever the master excavator, the Pileated Woodpecker makes good use of its strong, chisel-shaped bill to dig into dead trees and fallen logs in search of its main foods, carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. Animalia: information (1) Animalia: pictures (22861) Animalia: specimens (7109) Animalia: sounds (722) Animalia: maps (42) Eumetazoa metazoans. USDA Forest Service General Technical Report PNW-GTR-229, Portland, Oregon, USA. No. Males are slightly larger than females and are distinguished by a red malar (mustache) stripe and solid red from the crest to the beak. Consequently, they frequently use nests of Pileated Woodpeckers. An insectivore, it inhabits deciduous forests in eastern North America, the Great Lakes, the boreal forests of Canada, and parts of the Pacific Coast. Young, D. 2003. Moulton, C. A., and L. W. Adams. In flight, large, white underwing patches show. The birder who explores such areas is likely to see the bird perched low over the water, slowly wagging its tail, then darting out in rapid flight to snap up an insect just above the water's surface. Old-growth forest meets these habitat needs, and Douglas-fir, especially in western Oregon, is a choice nest and roost tree. Twitter. Downloaded from. The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is a large, mostly black woodpecker native to North America. Contributor Galleries Washington Forest Practices Board. This woodpecker lays anywhere from three to five eggs per clutch, on average. [3] When in 1758 the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus updated his Systema Naturae for the tenth edition, he included the pileated woodpecker, coined the binomial name Picus pileatus and cited Catesby's book. Kilham (1979) reported that eggs were unattended for up to 20 minutes in the first few days; attended nearly 100% of the time after that. [2], The English naturalist Mark Catesby described and illustrated the pileated woodpecker in his book The Natural History of Carolina, Florida and the Bahama Islands which was published between 1729 and 1732. Coniferous or deciduous forest. It turns out that the popular mid-20th century cartoon character Woody Woodpecker was actually inspired by a persistent Acorn Woodpecker that staged a cameo during animator Walter Lantz's honeymoon, calling and drumming at the couple's cabin. 2002b. It can be found in the west from Washington south to California and east to Idaho and North Dakota. Find out more about nest boxes on our Attract Birds pages. The sharp whistled call of the Black Phoebe is a typical sound along creeks and ponds in the southwest. Pileated woodpeckers excavate large nest cavities in snags or large decaying live trees, and wood chips from their excavations are typically found on the cavity floor and at the base of trees.