
I've waited many years to see the elusive pileated woodpecker up close. Last week, one of my wishes came true when this one landed on a big oak tree right outside of my kitchen window. When I ran to get the camera it flew away to a different oak tree across the yard. Then, in a stroke of luck, it flew back to the tree by the kitchen window. I was ecstatic!
It is a beautiful and very large woodpecker, but shy. They are as big as a crow, growing 15-19 inches tall with a wingspan of 26 to 29 inches. You can read more about them here:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Pileated_Woodpecker/lifehistory