Pair of Pileateds
It is winter here in Minnesota - a good time to put out lots of suet for the birds.
Pileated (pī′lē-ā′tĭd) is an ornithological term meaning having a crest covering the pileum (top of a bird's head). This crest is also a way to tell the sex of pileated woodpeckers - male on left has a full red crest and red mustache: female on right with partial red crest and black mustache.
Given their large size, this woodpecker is one of the coolest birds to attract to one's yard by providing suet. Suet feeding tip: when raccoons go into hibernation from November to March in Minnesota you can put out a large suet basket on a tree trunk to attract woodpeckers. A large basket attached to a tree by a bungee cord will allow for bulk suet rather than the suet cakes and also makes more natural way for woodpeckers to feed. Bulk suet can be cheaper to buy and the birds often prefer it over many of the pre-formed suet cakes. Think of staging on a tree by window that is most often used for frequent viewing.