Woodpeckers are fascinating birds, they range in size from Extra large to small around the U.P. feeders. Our first shot of the Morning Visitor comes from a new Pasty Camist, Rose Tuovila, who snapped this Pileated Woodpecker, basking in the morning sunshine in the Vulcan area. She said they’ve had a variety of woodpeckers partaking of the suet they put out and it disappears quite quickly.

The next two photos are from Bob Gilreath in Hubbell. He said they actually have a pair of these extra large Pileated Woodpeckers nesting in their back yard. Imagine how neat that will be when he spots a young Pileated if they’re successful hatching in the spring.

The bottom two photos were taken by Deb Simons of a female Hairy Woodpecker on their Lake Linden feeder. These medium size woodpeckers enjoy the suet cakes, also. Deb said they’ve seen the male with the red crown patch, but this was the first time they spotted a female. It’s so relaxing to watch the birds and extra fun when you get something different than the normal song birds and bluejays.

Bob also captured a video of his Pileated visitor pecking away at the suet, while a couple of Chickadees flit back and forth for seeds on the other side of the feeder.

Colorful birds! The first one looks rather regal
sitting there on it’s throne.
Cool video too.
Thanks to all who contributed!

True fact, Walter Lantz based Woody Woodpecker from
a Pileated Woodpecker..

Woodpeckers are so fascinating. I just love
watching them. Well, I love watching all wildlife.
Love the video!

Beautiful...the Pileated is a female too. When the
black stripe on the cheek is red...that's a male.
They are huge and skittish...getting a picture is
really awesome~

I used to have a log type of feeder with 4 holes
drilled through it, then you put suet in that. I'd
melt a jar of peanut butter (chunky of course), a
pound of lard, and a couple of handfuls of
sunflower seed and then pour that in a bread pan
and put it in the fridge. When we had Shopko, I'd
buy meal worms and add those....I swear I fed
every woodpecker in the county....they are so
cool.

AWESOME pics and vid!

When we lived in Red Jacket, we had a pair of Pileated living in a tree in our backyard the entire time we were there, even got to see woodpecker-lets one year. We get woodpeckers here as well, but nothing as big or as comical as these guys.

Excellent shots and video today.

I've got a woodpecker and an owl hanging around my house but have only ever heard them.

I'm so disappointed so far this year with my Hawthorne tree's ability to attract the Cardinals. All the bright red berries usually attract dozens but so far just one or two and not for very long. I hung a suet cage out as further enticement but still nothing.