From David Lytwynec

Today I learned that Pileated Woodpeckers, while hunting for insects, will place an ear next to the surface of a tree, listening for insects moving under the bark.

It’s not a great picture, but it does document what I observed.

Ellicott City, 10/17/2026.

I didn’t know this either. I thought they just looked for likely spots and did some trial and error.

Here is a good article about the ways they listen and locate their prey if you’d like some more details.

  • Vandals_handleEnglish
    4·
    8 days ago

    I’ve got Downey and Nuttal’s woodpeckers in my yard, mostly gleaning insects by picking out of cracks in the bark of pines. Not much pecking into wood going on. Lots of territorial/mating display related drumming in the spring time. This is usually on metal attached to telephone poles.

    • anon6789OP
      4·
      8 days ago

      The Nuttal’s are new to me. I like the spots on the chest.

      I have Downeys and Red-bellied. I’ve only seen one Flicker in my yard, but we get a couple in the clinic each year, so they’re around somewhere.