Pileated woodpeckers are large woodpeckers native to forests across North America. They are known for their loud, distinctive laughing call and the rectangular excavations they create while searching for Carpenter ants. Pileated woodpeckers mate for life and pair bonding behaviors can be seen year-round as they constantly reinforce their pair bond. However, they have a distinct breeding season when they form nests and raise young. The timing of nesting and breeding in pileated woodpeckers depends on their geographic location.
Breeding Range
Pileated woodpeckers breed across much of North America from the Pacific Coast to the Atlantic Coast and from Canada south to Florida and the Gulf Coast. Their breeding range extends through:
- Pacific Coast: From southern British Columbia through the Pacific Northwest south to California.
- Rocky Mountains: From British Columbia and Alberta south through the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico.
- Midwest and Great Lakes: From Minnesota east through the Great Lakes region to western New York.
- Northeast: From New England south to Maryland.
- Appalachians and Southeast: From New York and Pennsylvania south through the Appalachians and southeastern Coastal Plain to Florida and the Gulf Coast.
Across this broad breeding range, the timing of breeding and nesting follows some general patterns based on latitude and elevation but can vary across the range.
Timing of Breeding and Nesting
Pileated woodpeckers generally begin breeding and nesting earlier in more southerly parts of their range and later in more northerly locations. The timing across their range is approximately:
Southern Range
- Florida, Gulf Coast, Southern Atlantic Coast: Begins nesting as early as February; mostly March to May.
- South Carolina west to eastern Texas: Mainly March to early June.
- Maryland south to Kentucky: Late March to mid May.
Northern Range
- New England, New York: April to early June.
- Great Lakes region, Ohio River Valley: April to mid June.
- Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri: Late April to late June.
- Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies: May to July.
- Canada: May to July.
At higher elevations in both the southern and northern parts of their range, nesting is delayed by 2 to 4 weeks compared to lower elevations due to colder conditions.
The table below summarizes the approximate breeding and nesting timeframes across the pileated woodpecker’s range:
Location | Breeding Season |
---|---|
Florida, Gulf Coast, Southern Atlantic Coast | March to May |
South Carolina west to eastern Texas | March to early June |
Maryland south to Kentucky | Late March to mid May |
New England, New York | April to early June |
Great Lakes region, Ohio River Valley | April to mid June |
Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri | Late April to late June |
Pacific Northwest, Northern Rockies | May to July |
Canada | May to July |
Nest Site Selection
Pileated woodpeckers nest in tree cavities they excavate for themselves. They preferentially select dead trees or dead parts of live trees where the wood is softer and easier to excavate. Favorite nest trees include:
- Dead conifers
- Dead or partially dead aspen, birch, maple, and alder
- Dead limbs of live oak, hickory, and pine
Nest holes are generally excavated 20-60 feet above the ground on the underside of a branch or on the main trunk. The entrance hole is approximately 3 inches across and tunnels inward up to 24 inches deep before turning downward into a larger cavity up to 16 inches deep.
Excavation and Eggs
Both sexes participate in nest cavity excavation, which takes around 15-30 days to complete. Once the nest is ready, the female lays a clutch of 3-5 glossy white eggs (usually 4) at the rate of 1 per day. She does not start incubating the eggs until the full clutch is laid.
Incubation
The female alone incubates the eggs, while the male provides her with food. Incubation lasts 18-21 days before hatching. The chicks hatch out naked and helpless but develop quickly.
Nestling Phase
For the first week after hatching, one parent (usually the male) stays at the nest to brood the nestlings and keep them warm. Both parents feed the nestlings with regurgitated insect prey. The nestlings’ eyes open at around 7-10 days. At 3-4 weeks old, the young pileated woodpeckers crawl to the nest entrance where the parents begin coaxing them to venture out and practice flying.
Fledging
The young fledge and leave the nest at 26-28 days old, but cannot fly well at this point. They can flutter from tree to tree but depend on the parents for another 2-3 weeks as they improve their flying skills and learn to find food. The family stays together until the juveniles are able to disperse and survive independently, usually by late summer or early fall.
Second Broods
Pileated woodpeckers may raise a second brood, particularly in the southern portion of their range. The second nesting follows the same timeline, with eggs laid in May or June and fledging in early July. Double brooding is more common when the first nest fails due to predation or other factors requiring them to re-nest.
Conclusion
Pileated woodpeckers breed and raise young across most of North America from late winter through summer. Nesting is earliest in the southernmost states like Florida where nest preparation and egg-laying begins as early as February and March. Further north, they breed between April and July depending on latitude and elevation. The nesting season lasts around 2-3 months at any given location. Both parents work together to excavate a nest cavity, incubate the eggs, brood the young, and feed the nestlings until they fledge at 4 weeks old. With double brooding, pileated woodpeckers may raise two broods over the course of a breeding season.
Key Points
- Pileated woodpeckers nest earlier in southern latitudes and later in northern areas.
- In Florida and the Deep South, breeding starts as early as February and March.
- From the Southeast to Texas, nesting occurs from March to June.
- Farther north from the Mid-Atlantic to the Great Lakes, nesting runs April to June.
- In Canada and the Pacific Northwest, the breeding season is mainly May to July.
- The nesting process takes 2-3 months from cavity excavation to fledging.
- Pairs may raise a second brood after successfully fledging their first.
In summary, pileated woodpeckers time their breeding season based on latitude, with southern pairs nesting earlier on average than northern pairs. But across most of their range, the prime pileated woodpecker nesting season is generally spring and early summer from March to July. Their distinctive laughing call heralds the start of breeding activities like courtship feeding, nest excavation, and eventual egg-laying. Keep an eye and ear out for these signs of nesting behavior if you live near pileated woodpecker habitat in the springtime. Understanding their breeding biology helps bird enthusiasts know when to expect peak viewing opportunities in their area.