Off-topic: The pileated woodpecker

[Boston001]

Look who came to have coffee with me this morning. The pileated woodpecker is about 15 inches in length and is one of the largest woodpeckers found in North America. "Pileated" refers to the bird's prominent red crest, from the Latin pileatus meaning "capped". His scarlet cap and coal black plumage are striking to see against the drab forest this time of year. Sadly I had to crush the quality of the image in order to upload it to HU, but he hasn't lost his charm.

[Dolphin14]

Great photo Boston. I've never been able to get a shot of a woodpecker. I've heard them but too high up. My friend had holes all over the back of her house from woodpeckers. I had a picture but can't find it

🐬

This went through my yard

[Starrlight in reply to Dolphin14]

What!? Is it a coyote?

[Dolphin14 in reply to Starrlight]

Yes. Scary

❤️🐬

[Boston001 in reply to Dolphin14]

No they are beautiful creatures. Although some coyotes may exhibit bold behavior near people, the risk of a coyote attacking a person is extremely low. This risk can increase if coyotes are intentionally fed and then learn to associate people with food

[Dolphin14 in reply to Boston001]

Good point

Fear not I will not be feeding them. They just stroll through on occasion. A deer or two sometimes as well.

[Boston001 in reply to Dolphin14]

❤️ Eastern coyote 🤩 We have a pack in my hood too. We don't see them in the daytime

[Dolphin14 in reply to Boston001]

I hear them at night they freak me out. I took that through the screen as you might notice. I prefer the distance lol

Had a baby one on the deck a couple years back. It looked so sick It was so sad. Animal Control off that day. It went back in the woods my heart broke

[Starrlight in reply to Dolphin14]

Awwww poor thing. I used to hear them at night when I visited my grandparents in Arkansas.

[Boston001 in reply to Dolphin14]

Certainly, keep your distance and don't get them accustomed to people. Two winters ago I was in my backyard stargazing when three coyotes came from the neighbor's yard running at a full gallop. They came within 4 feet of me, I could feel the rumble of their feet as they buzzed by. It was moon-bright so I'm sure they knew I was there. if they had any kind of ill will I would not have stood a chance. The movies want us to be afraid of nature, it sells toothpaste and prescription drugs!

[Dolphin14 in reply to Boston001]

That's so true. I respect nature and don't want to violate.

The coyotes do go after domestic animals like dogs and cats. They have also attacked humans.

Did you see the story a couple years back of one walking along the beach on CC?

[Boston001 in reply to Dolphin14]

I don't know the specific story you are talking about. But a beach defiantly sounds like a place that Coyote would scavenge for food. Washed-up flotsam, fisherman's bait boxes, people's trash, and yes a temping little Shih Tzu snack

[Boston001 in reply to Dolphin14]

I love this cartoon it says it all

Bear

[Dolphin14 in reply to Boston001]

Yes, sadly that's the reality

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Dolphin14]

Dogs and cats and hedgehogs. I don't want to imagine Herman outside playing.

[Dolphin14 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

Not my boy. He's very safe auntie

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Dolphin14]

😊💜🦔

[Starrlight in reply to Boston001]

We dont see coyotes at all, but do get fox in the backyard den. I love them.

[Boston001 in reply to Starrlight]

I have only seen a few over the years, they are cute!

Fox

[Starrlight in reply to Boston001]

So cute! We had babies born in the backyard a few different years. They would play with toys we left out for them!!!

[Boston001 in reply to Starrlight]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Boston001]

Thanks for sharing your fox.

[Hidden in reply to Dolphin14]

THAT's a Coyote? Healthy lookin rascal. good for him, or her. by the way, no need to be scared by coyotes. they're just trying to survive, same as us

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Dolphin14]

It's beautiful, but I wouldn't want to see it stroll through my yard.

[Starrlight]

Great pic. I love them! I love listening to the pecking sound.

[Boston001 in reply to Starrlight]

They can actually tell if their food is in the tree and where, by the sound it makes when they tap on it

[Starrlight in reply to Boston001]

Soooooo cool!!!

[Hidden]

Prize photo - well done!!!!!!!!!

[Boston001 in reply to Hidden]

One of the 10 was a keeper 😆

[bonkers65]

I love seeing them too. Great pic.

[Pitalife]

That's cool and informative..thnx..love nature stuff gives caregiver a Lil break....I have smaller redheaded woodpeckers here in south florida,plenty of bugs to eat down here....

[emmi331]

Lovely picture! I don't remember seeing these in my yard, but they are very handsome. The smaller varieties visit my feeder in winter, though.I get such a kick out of my backyard critters, especially the squirrels!

[designguy]

Great image, what a regal looking bird. We have Flickers in our area and i'm starting to hear their rat-a-tat drilling to attract a mate, it's a sign of spring.

[Boston001 in reply to designguy]

Us too, Flickrs are most common here in the summer, The pileated woodpeckers are less common because there are only 2 million of them in all of North America

[Boston001]

Fun fact: Cartoonist Walter Lantz used the pileated woodpecker's jaunty crest and loud call as models for his most-famous creation, Woody Woodpecker

Woody Woodpecker

[Hidden]

what a pretty bird!

[Nothing_but_books]

I wish I'd seen him. I've only got Downy Woodpeckers and Northern Flickers on my property. Is he nesting nearby, do you think? My Downy likes to climb up the tree trunk upside down. I always get the deviants.

[Boston001 in reply to Nothing_but_books]

I have not seen him since but then I have not been spending a lot of time outdoors. The google just said their home range can be 200 to 300 acers, but if my guy wasn't paired he could have been just passing thru

[Boston001 in reply to Boston001]

Oooops it's a She

[Nothing_but_books in reply to Boston001]

Ooohhh. I didn't know either.

I found a nice article explaining the difference. Link below.

reconnectwithnature.org/new...

female (left) and male