Do woodpeckers ever make noise just for fun? Usually when I hear a Pileated Woodpecker at work, it sounds like a jackhammer as the bird drives its bill deep into the tree, but earlier this week I hear a more resonant, drumming sound coming from a hollow tree.
I spotted the Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) just before it spotted me and I was able to snap only a couple of photos before it flew away. As I looked at the tree afterwards, it was easy to see that it had essentially served as a musical instrument for the bird, allowing the woodpecker to send its rhythmic music out a long distance.
What was not clear, however, was whether the actions had been related to searching for insects, because it sure didn’t look like the long dead tree housed any insects.
Was the woodpecker sending messages? The message I received was that I should hurry to that spot for a great photos opportunity.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Great shot. It’s amazing how much noise even the smaller woodpeckers make.
great photo mike!
Thanks, Rib. It is unusual for me to get an unobstructed view of one of these woodpeckers. I only wish I could have gotten more shots than the two I got, but I was pretty happy with them. As you probably noticed, this was a day when the snow was still around.
Interesting thought and one I’ve been having recently actually. The woodpeckers who visit my garden are find of battering away at our siding which is vinyl and houses no insect life. Yet the woodpeckers peck at it frequently enough that I’m thinking it can’t be error. So do they like that it makes a louder noise?
I’m not sure, but one of my friends on Facebook suggested that it may ba a way to attract mates and/or mark territory. If that is the case, then pecking on siding might make sense.
Frisky woodpeckers makes sense. Thanks.
Woodpeckers do drum to attract mates. My daughter had one in her neighborhood that chose a metal roof to drum on at dawn every morning, as if it was part rooster.
That’s a good shot of a very elusive bird. I’m surprised it let you get so close.
I also thought, have been told, the loud drumming noise is about mating. It is always good to cross reference information.
Beautiful shot, and thought provoking. A privilege to see an elusive bird!
Thanks. I always wonder about the meaning of the different actions of birds and animals, It’s easy to impute human motives, which probably is not the case most of the time.
Great sighting of owls and woodpeckers for you this year — you’re on a roll, Mike!
Great capture Mike. These are indeed very elusive birds. I see them on occasion but have yet to get a photo of one.
We have here a black woodpecker, Dryocopus martius, which resemble very much with your woodpecker.
Never seen these, Mike! Great capture – they are quite beautiful with their red head!
Message received! I like the idea of it communicating with you the best.
And who’s to say that it wasn’t calling you for a brief portrait opportunity before heading off to another advertising perch?