Pileated Woodpecker Cavity Identification Guide

Cavity type descriptions

Nest cavities

Pileated Woodpeckers nest in mature mixed or coniferous forests or in younger forests with numerous large, dead trees. Query tools are available (e.g., Bird Canada Calendar Query Tool) to help determine when pileated woodpecker nesting occurs in a region.

Pileated woodpeckers typically use large (typically > 40 cm diameter breast height [dbh]), solid trees, with heart rot for nesting. Nesting trees normally contain only one entrance hole. It is rare to find a tree with more than one nest cavity, but when several nest cavities are encountered, entrance holes are typically over 1 m apart. Nearby trees may also contain dummy cavities, as woodpeckers in some locations excavated an average of 1.2 cavities per pair each year.

Nest cavities have an internal diameter of about 20 cm and are up to 75 cm deep. Entrances can be circular or slightly oval (tear drop shaped), with a vertical diameter around 12 cm and a horizontal diameter around 9 cm. Entrances have smooth edges and surfaces. Nesting cavities may appear dark from the outside, because they lead to a hollow chamber (see Figure 1).

Roost cavities

Pileated woodpeckers use their nest cavities for roosting, especially during the breeding season, or they can excavate new holes for roosting. Pileated woodpeckers sleep or roost in cavities at night. They can be seen leaving roosts after sunrise and returning to roosts about 1 h before sunset until shortly after sunset.

Compared with nesting trees, trees that are only used for roosting are often hollow and may have numerous entrance holes (2 to 10+). This gives pileated woodpeckers several exits for evading predators. Nest cavities may become cavities that are only used for roosting as a tree ages, and more holes may be added to these trees over time. Entrance holes to roost cavities are excavated in all seasons.

Roost cavities average about 28 cm in internal diameter and 4.3 m in length. Roost cavity entrance holes may be less than 1 m apart. Entrance holes are usually oval and about 7.5 to 10 cm wide by 10 to 12.5 cm high (see Figure 2).

Feeding cavities

Pileated woodpeckers mostly forage from large diameter (at least 25 cm dbh, preferably > 40 cm dbh), decaying trees and woody debris. It can also be found on living trees with decayed heart. Feeding cavities differ from nest and roost cavities in three key ways: (1) they are more irregular in shape (instead of symmetrical), (2) they have rough edges and surfaces, and (3) they only extend 5 to 20 cm into a tree and then stop (they do not lead to large chambers suitable for roosting or nesting). Because feeding cavities do not lead to large chambers, they typically appear lighter in colour than nest or roost cavities (see Figure 3).

Example images

Figure 1. Pileated woodpecker nesting cavities

Figure 2. Pileated woodpecker roosting cavities

Figure 3. Pileated woodpecker feeding cavities

All photographs were used with permission.