Pileated woodpeckers are large, striking birds that inhabit mature forests across much of North America. With their bright red crest, black and white plumage, and loud, hammering calls, these woodpeckers are hard to miss. Though they are year-round residents across their range, pileated woodpeckers do not necessarily stay in one small area all the time. Their movement patterns can vary depending on the time of year and availability of resources. In general, pileated woodpeckers establish a home range which they will defend against other pileated woodpeckers, but they may locally wander within that range or even seasonally migrate short distances in search of food.
In this article, we will explore in more detail the question of whether pileated woodpeckers stay in one area. We will look at their territory and home range sizes, their resident vs. migratory status, seasonal movements, and the factors that influence their movement patterns. Understanding pileated woodpecker movement ecology is important for conservation efforts for these forest-dependent birds.
Do pileated woodpeckers establish a territory?
Yes, like most bird species, pileated woodpeckers establish breeding territories that they will defend from others of the same species. Their territory helps ensure access to resources like nest sites and food. Though actual territory sizes can vary, a typical pileated woodpecker breeding territory may be around 0.6-1.5 square km (0.25-0.6 square miles) in size.
Within their territories, they will excavate roost and nest cavities in trees, using their powerful chisel-like bills to hammer out holes in dead or dying trees. Territories must contain a sufficient number of suitable trees to allow cavity excavation. Both males and females will work to defend the territory from intrusion by other pileated woodpeckers. Defense includes aggressive interactions like calling, drumming, and even physical combat.
Establishing a discrete territory that they defend is clearly a key part of pileated woodpecker home range ecology. However, this does not necessarily mean that they will stay within that territory all the time. The territory seems to represent a core area of the home range, but pileated woodpeckers may move beyond the territory boundaries as well.
How large are pileated woodpecker home ranges?
In addition to a defended breeding territory, pileated woodpeckers also occupy a home range. The home range represents the entire area a bird may use over a set time period. It includes the territory plus surrounding areas the bird may wander into while foraging, migrating, dispersing between territories, etc.
For pileated woodpeckers specifically, reported home range estimates vary from around 100 hectares up to 3 square km or more. One study in Oregon found average home ranges around 5 square km for males and 0.7 square km for females.
So while pileated woodpeckers will defend a relatively small breeding territory, their actual occupied home range is often much larger than the territory alone. This hints at their potential to range beyond a single small area while going about their daily life.
Are pileated woodpeckers resident or migratory?
Pileated woodpeckers are considered resident across the majority of their range. This means they do not undertake predictable, seasonal migrations over long distances between distinct summer and winter ranges. They can maintain permanent territories and home ranges year-round.
However, some research suggests they may be partly migratory at the northern extreme of their range in Canada. Here, some individuals may migrate short distances south for the winter. Banding studies also show evidence of regular seasonal movements in some populations, even if not migrating very far.
Overall, pileated woodpeckers exhibit a mix of resident and locally migratory populations throughout their range. They are mostly resident, but northern birds especially may migrate shorter distances. Even within resident populations, they may seasonally wander locally between core habitat areas.
Do pileated woodpeckers stay in their territory all year?
Given the large home ranges relative to small breeding territories, along with occasional seasonal movements, it is clear that pileated woodpeckers do not stay exclusively within their territory boundaries all year round.
While they will defend a territory for breeding purposes, at other times of the year they appear to wander well beyond the territory, likely in search of food. Their territory represents an activity center and core part of the range, but the full home range extends farther outside the territory borders.
Factors like food availability and habitat quality play a key role in broader home range use and movements beyond the territory. Pileated woodpeckers mainly eat wood-boring beetle larvae that they excavate from dead or dying trees. The distribution and abundance of suitable habitat with enough food-bearing trees influences their movement patterns.
How do seasons affect pileated woodpecker movements?
Season and associated changes in resources can affect pileated woodpecker ranging behavior:
Breeding season
During the breeding season, from spring through early summer, pileated woodpeckers are most likely to remain within or near their breeding territory. This allows them to excavate nest cavities, attract a mate, and raise young. Staying close to the territory helps defend it against intrusions from competitors.
Winter
In winter, movement outside the territory may increase for some birds. Lack of insects during winter makes food scarcity more likely, which may necessitate traveling farther afield to find adequate food resources. Northern birds especially may migrate southward for winter.
Fall and spring
Fall and spring are the main periods of broader movements and dispersal. Young birds hatched earlier in the year leave their parents’ territory in fall to establish their own territory. Food availability also fluctuates seasonally, prompting movements.
So while pileated woodpeckers are primarily non-migratory residents, they do adjust their ranging behavior seasonally within their larger home ranges. They are most sedentary during the breeding season.
When do juvenile pileated woodpeckers leave their parents’ territory?
Pileated woodpeckers exhibit relatively slow development compared to other woodpeckers. Chicks fledge from the nest at around 26-29 days old, but remain dependent on the parents for an extended period. For the first two months after fledging, they remain together with their parents in their parents’ territory.
Around early fall about 3-4 months after fledging, now-independent juvenile pileated woodpeckers will disperse away from their parents’ territory. Dispersal distances appear to average around 3-10 km, but can range up to about 60 km away.
The juveniles will wander in search of an unused territory to claim for themselves before their first breeding season. Leaving the parents’ territory facilitates finding their own breeding space.
So the juvenile period is one life stage when pileated woodpeckers predictably disperse beyond a home territory, ranging widely until establishing a permanent territory of their own.
How do populations differ in movement patterns?
Not all pileated woodpecker populations exhibit the same patterns of movement and territoriality. Some key population differences include:
Geographic location
- Northern populations may migrate farther than southern resident populations
- Birds at range edge may wander more widely than those in core range
Habitat quality
- Fragmented, degraded habitats associated with larger ranges and movements
- Higher quality habitats allow smaller defended territories
Sex
- Male home ranges average 5 times larger than female
- Males wander more widely than more sedentary females
So while territorial fidelity does occur, various factors can influence the degree of mobility and home range sizes among different populations.
Conclusion
In summary, pileated woodpeckers do establish discrete breeding territories within their larger home ranges, but they do not necessarily remain exclusively within those territory boundaries year-round. While they are primarily non-migratory residents across their range, they may wander locally or migrate short distances seasonally. Their movements are influenced by life history demands, food availability, habitat quality, and other factors. Juveniles, and males in particular, tend to range most widely outside the territory space. Though territorial, pileated woodpeckers occupy expansive home ranges and exhibit a degree of nomadism beyond the territory core. Their complex movement ecology allows them to locate adequate habitat resources across the landscape.