While in the Yaak Valley you may be fortunate enough to see this big, impressive bird with a flaming red crest. This crow-sized woodpecker tends to be an elusive bird, but if you listen closely you may hear the loud drumming and far-carrying ringing calls that resonate throughout the mature forests that these amazing birds call home. The term “pileated” refers to the bird’s prominent red crest, with the term derived from the Latin pileatus meaning “capped.”
Photo and description courtesy of Anthony South.
The Pileated Woodpecker
