Hopefully the clues I mention will help you identify more and more birds on your own. With all this in mind, I'll attempt to ID a bird encountered by Lynn on a recent camping trip. Lynn was sitting quietly when a large bird, about the size of a pigeon, alighted nearby on a stump. I'm going to guess that Lynn saw the largest species of woodpecker in the United States, the gorgeous pileated woodpecker. For all of its size and striking color, the pileated is known to be a pretty shy bird, Lynn, and you're really fortunate to have seen one.
Pileated woodpeckers depend upon mature forests to survive.
The bird was seen around trees that didn't appear healthy. Wherever forests are disturbed by fire, insect infestations, or disease, you'll find woodpeckers. The bird was pecking at a stump. All rights reserved.