Most people recognize the familiar rat-a-tat-tat-tat of a woodpecker hunting for food. These bug-eating birds use their strong beaks to bore holes through bark to get the bugs hiding. This footage is astonishing as curious photographer Amber reduced the speed of the video, revealing a woodpecker eating in slow motion.
Videos by InspireMore
The pileated woodpecker is the largest in North America. In the world, it falls behind the great slaty and black woodpeckers. The pileated woodpecker is a year-round resident in the eastern United States, across much of Canada, and the Pacific Northwest. They are about the same size as a crow and are easy to identify. Their body is predominantly black, with white stripes along each side and a distinctive red crest.
They will feed on suet if offered but prefer to hunt in dead or fallen trees that have begun rotting. Their primary diet is carpenter ants. If you see rectangular holes left in a log, a pileated woodpecker has been there. Woodpecker holes become nests for a wide variety of birds and bats. Another feature of the woodpecker is its long, sticky tongue, which you can see in another slow-motion video from Amber.
Paired pileated woodpeckers remain together year-round. They are territorial and will defend their area, but they will tolerate new birds in their territory during the colder months. The oldest known pileated woodpecker was just under 13 years old the last time it was captured during a band and release operation in Maryland.
If you like this slow-motion video of the pileated woodpecker, please check out more slo-mo animals at Amber Favorite Photography on TikTok. She captures many stunning moments, such as a great blue heron eating an armored catfish.
Please share.
You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here.
Want to be happier in just 5 minutes a day? Sign up for Morning Smile and join over 455,000+ people who start each day with good news.
