Phenology report: Woodpeckers drum, determine territorial pecking order

By Charlie Mitchell

Published March 7, 2025 at 11:55 AM CST

A large black woodpecker with white and red markings on its head perches on a tree trunk. — A male Pileated Woodpecker perches on a tree trunk in McGregor, Minnesota on Oct. 20, 2021.

Woodpeckers are busy establishing breeding territories by drumming on resonant surfaces, while Bald Eagles and squirrels work on their nests in advance of baby season. Staff phenologist John Latimer reports for the week of March 4, 2025.

Spring arrived to Grand Rapids in woodpecker form last week, as a local Pileated Woodpecker began making regular visits to John Latimer’s yard, feeding at the suet feeder and drumming on a large red maple.

For most of the year, Pileated Woodpeckers are somewhat shy and furtive despite their large size and flashy colors. In springtime, they abandon this bashful demeanor in favor of loud drumming displays intended to stake out nesting territory and attract a mate. (Less bashful, more head bashing, you might say.) If you hear deep, resonant drumming that lasts about three seconds, one of these mohawked woodcrafters is probably nearby. Keep an eye out for their rollercoaster-like flight pattern, which consissts of a few hard flaps followed by a torpedo-like glide.

Two nestling Pileated Woodpeckers reach their heads out of the nest cavity to beg for food from their papa. This nest was photographed on June 17, 2023 in Roseville.

Both males and females drum as part of their courtship behavior, but the individual visiting John’s yard sports the flashy red mustache of a male. (Female Pileated Woodpeckers also have a red mohawk, but they lack any red markings near the bill.) They prefer nesting in old aspen trees, which offer plenty of room for their tousle-headed young. So, if you have the opportunity to save old aspens, the local woodpeckers (and all the species that use their abandoned holes) will thank you!

Topics

Introduction (0:00-0:21)
Snow and ice conditions (0:21-2:51)
Pileated Woodpeckers (2:51-7:50)
Bald Eagles (7:50-10:01)
Bird feeder birds (10:01-10:19)
Nesting ravens (10:19-11:33)
Squirrel mating season (11:33-13:41)
Owl irruption (13:41-14:51)
Turkeys gobbling (14:51-15:53)
Pussywillows budding (15:53-16:22)
Colorful dogwoods and willows (16:22-17:29)
Conclusion (17:29-18:17)

That does it for this week! For more phenology, subscribe to our Season Watch Newsletter or visit the Season Watch Facebook page.

What have you seen out there? Let us know: email us at comments@kaxe.org or text us at 218-326-1234.

Funding for this project was provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).