Posted by Susan Rout on January 22, 2004

Q: I live in central wisconsin and noticed that a birch log.. that I drilled holes in and fill with peanut butter has been eaten regularly..but never saw any woodpeckers..we have many grosbeaks.but I didn't think it was them..a few days ago I saw a LARGE woodpecker at my suet feeder and before I could go outside he flew away..but today I saw him again and I believe it was a pilliated..my bird book shows no woodpecker with a woodywoodpecker crest except the Ivory bill and the pilliated..now I have seen pilliated before in our area..but it did not seem so colorful..do they inhabit this area and do they turn more colorful in the winter? its a stunning bird..Thank you..Sue Rout

A: You did see a Pileated Woodpecker, they're found throughout Wisconsin in the right habitat. Males have an entirely red crown while female crowns have red only toward the back of the head. Neither male nor female changes color from winter to summer - they're the same all year round. The reason you may have thought it more colorful was that you got a better look this time or that the lighting was better. Lucky you!

John Wiessinger ( January 23, 2004)