Incredible footage of a woodpecker pecking on a tree

Loud and bright, you can’t miss this bird. Here it is on a cold sunny February day in Quebec Canada.Show more

This is a Pileated woodpecker, often confused with the Red-headed woodpecker. They are two of the most recognizable bird species. One is easily identified by its solid red head, while the other is recognized by its red crest. Both species have overlapping ranges, but that is about as far as similarities go.

Pileated Woodpeckers have red crests and long bills, whereas Red-headed Woodpeckers have red heads with a much shorter bill. Their plumages are entirely different, making it easy to tell apart by appearance alone. Also, Pileated Woodpeckers are considerably larger than Red-headed Woodpeckers.

The eating habits of these two woodpeckers also differ significantly. One exhibits classic pecking and gleaning behavior, while the other is primarily a flycatcher.

We will discuss the differences between the pileated and red-headed woodpecker in more detail throughout the article. Read on to discover more about two fascinating species!