Outdoor Ontario

Request for Information => Bird ID => Topic started by: jnish on March 15, 2017, 01:35:51 PM

Title: what made these holes???
Post by: jnish on March 15, 2017, 01:35:51 PM

I see a lot of holes up high in the cedars and I assume woodpeckers.  However, these holes are very close to the ground.  One of the smallest holes is just a couple of inches above the forest floor.  What made these holes?

(https://c1.staticflickr.com/1/663/33418303846_cb1bb192ea.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/SV4xsw)IMG_7050 (https://flic.kr/p/SV4xsw) by Jane Nishikawa (https://www.flickr.com/photos/138568556@N08/), on Flickr

Apologies--not exactly a bird ID question!

Title: Re: what made these holes???
Post by: Reuven_M on March 15, 2017, 07:53:20 PM

Looks like a Pileated Woodpecker!

Title: Re: what made these holes???
Post by: jnish on March 16, 2017, 04:00:51 PM

Thank you--it must be spectacular to observe a pileated woodpecker at work!

Title: Re: what made these holes???
Post by: Leslie Kinrys on March 16, 2017, 05:17:06 PM

I have watched a Pileated Woodpecker hack away at a neighbour's tree. The pieces of wood flew everywhere and it sounded like someone was using a hatchet. One winter, we came upon a fallen tree. A Pileated was breaking it open. A Hairy and a Downy were watching it. When the Pileated flew off, the Hairy started to work that spot. When it flew off, the Downy took a turn. My husband said it was like seeing small, medium and large  :D

Title: Re: what made these holes???
Post by: Reuven_M on March 16, 2017, 05:52:47 PM

In a similar vein, I've seen chickadees hanging around while downy woodpeckers feed - not sure if they're waiting to steal something?