Critter of the Day: this one’s easy

It may be hard to tell a downy from a hairy woodpecker, but there is no mistaking these guys!

It’s a fairly rare treat for a pileated woodpecker to come visit. Not only do they have a very distinctive red head, but they are much larger than our usual visitors. At one point, I could see him tearing pieces of this tree’s bark off and tossing it down to the ground! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a woodpecker do that before!

Pileated woodpecker

We don’t see these guys often – though we certainly hear them!  They’re not as photo friendly as the downy woodpeckers we see more often.

2018-12.pileated.woodpecker

My daughter managed to snag a couple of photos – and in one of them, it was mostly hidden by the tree! – before it took off.

Love that incredible red!