Pileated Woodpecker

Description:

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of the biggest, most striking forest birds on the continent. It’s nearly the size of a crow, black with bold white stripes down the neck and a flaming-red crest. Look (and listen) for Pileated Woodpeckers whacking at dead trees and fallen logs in search of their main prey, carpenter ants, leaving unique rectangular holes in the wood. The nest holes these birds make offer crucial shelter to many species including swifts, owls, ducks, bats, and pine martens.

Notes:

Walked out on my porch and heard the distinctive wood-pecking sound and saw two pileated woodpeckers in the trees across the road! These are the best pictures I could get before they flew off.