Pileated Woodpecker

I am starting a new series of small head portraits of Woodpeckers. I am starting with the 11 species that live in my county of Deschutes in central Oregon. I may extend it to include all of the 22 North American species at some point.

The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America and ranges over the eastern half of the United States, most of central and southern Canada, and parts of Idaho, Washington, Oregon and Northern California. In Oregon it is confined to the mountains of northeastern Oregon and the Cascade range and west to the coast. They are not common in Oregon but can be seen fairly often if you are diligent. They usually have large territories so that makes them a bit challenging to track down. They prefer old growth conifers, cypress swamps, bottom lands and mature hardwood forests. They don't drill holes as such but rather excavates cavities pounding into the trunks of dead and decaying trees, and live ones, creating rectangular or oblong shaped cavities in search of insects. Often seen working dead or fallen trees on or near the ground. They have a fairly loud and raucous call similar to the Northern Flicker so they are hard to miss if they are vocalizing. They tend to be rather secretive nesters so it is sometimes hard to find their nest.

Here in Deschutes County you can find them in the forests west of Sisters as well as the forest trails along the Century Drive. Magnificent woodpecker to behold.

Image Size is 4" x 4"  mixed media on arches watercolor paper.  $95

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