If you hear an annoying tapping noise on the roof resembling a hammer hitting metal, don't fret; it is only a male woodpecker establishing its territory. Similar to several types of birds which are territorial, the Red-Headed, Red-Bellied and Pileated varieties can make their point known for an entire block! There is nothing like a 6AM wake up notice from the local male woodpecker.
A reader provided this photograph of the Pileated Woodpecker.
One of these days, I will take a photograph of the smaller Red-Cockaded Woodpecker, which is on the endangered list and makes his home in this area. He is about one inch shorter than the other two. His red markings are much smaller. There are few places he is seen, so I would not expect to see one here inside of The Woodlands. More likely, we would see one in the protected Jones Forest or on Spring Creek.
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| Red Headed Woodpecker submitted by Lisa Griffis |
The Red Headed Woodpecker is spectacular but is a bit more shy to people than some of the other sister species. There is no doubt what species it is when you see it in the forest!
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| Downy Woodpecker |
The Downy is a popular small backyard woodpecker that likes to regularly feed from a hanging suet feeder. I had a family of four in my backyard all summer and can't say how much I enjoyed them!
References
- Woodpeckers of the East Texas Piney Woods by Texas Parks and Wildlife
- Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Acknowledgements
- Pileated Woodpecker photograph courtesy of Nelda Blair
- Red Headed Woodpecker photograph by Lisa Griff
