Pileated Woodpecker

We went to Point Pelee last week with the hopes of seeing the migrating birds. We did see some, which I will post about next week. However, the best sighting we had was here at home. The day before going, we were visited by a pileated woodpecker. It was very accommodating, and let me have enough time to go into the house to get my camera. 

We don't see the pileated woodpecker very often, so this was a special sighting for us. We see the results of their work quite often, as they make a lot of holes in the trees around here while looking for bugs. Usually they are dead trees, and some holes can be used by other birds for their nests. However, some of the trees really look damaged.

They are the largest of the woodpeckers in North America and are about the size of a crow. We often hear the loud drumming as they pound on the trees, and sometimes hear their distinctive call, but don't see them too often. It's always a treat when we see them.