Pileated Woodpecker Excavating a Home

This Pileated Woodpecker, male, is excavating a nesting cavity now high up in a dead tree stub. He was being secretive, understandably so, as he does not want other cavity nesting birds, or predators to find the location. He pecked at the interior wood for a while, then the female came and took a turn. Pileated Woodpeckers are common here on Sanibel Island, FL, but in NH where we are from, it is a rare treat to see one.