Pileated Woodpecker

We got the extraordinary opportunity to watch a pileated woodpecker close to the creek below the falls. It was apparently a young one. It had brilliant plumage and was not very much afraid of us. It was pecking at some rotted logs and let us get within about 30 feet of it.

Below is a sound file of the pileated woodpecker.

From the USGS I found this map of the sightings of the pileated woodpecker.

We have caught sight of pileated woodpeckers several times at Bent Tree and have heard their distinctive call and the dramatic sound of their drumming on trees. But on this trip with the Mableton First Baptist Church RAs boys group, was the first time we got the opportunity to get a close view.

We had briefly seen and heard one in Pearl River, Louisiana on June 1 and I was a bit surprised. But that is consistent with the map of the range of this bird.