Skip to main content

Donate

Birds
Live Cams
Courses
Merlin Bird ID

Donate

Pileated Woodpecker Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
New York, June 05, 1951Recorded by Arthur A. Allen / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
West Virginia, August 05, 2018Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
New York, January 21, 2018Recorded by Glen Chapman / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Ohio, May 28, 2020Recorded by Anthony Schmitt / Macaulay Library
Calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
New York, April 28, 2020Recorded by Jay McGowan / Macaulay Library
Drum
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
Oregon, May 09, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Juvenile calls
Media Player Error
Update your browser or Flash plugin
West Virginia, May 15, 2020Recorded by Wil Hershberger / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Pileated Woodpeckers are quite vocal, typically making a high, clear, series of piping calls that lasts several seconds. The sound is quite similar to a Northern Flicker’s rattling call, although it tends to be more resonant and less even in tone, with changing emphasis or rhythm during the call. Pileated Woodpeckers also give shorter calls that sound like wuk, wuk or cuk, cuk to indicate a territory boundary or to give an alarm.

Other Sounds

Both sexes drum powerfully on trees at any time of the year, typically a fairly slow, deep rolling that lasts about 3 seconds. Males drum in late winter to establish and defend a territory, both sexes drum as part of courtship, and either sex may drum to solicit mating, to summon a mate from a distance, or in response to an intruder near a nest.

Compare with Similar Species

Click on an image to compare

Red-headed Woodpecker

Looking for ID Help?

Our free app offers quick ID help with global coverage.

Try Merlin Bird ID

Species in This Family

Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)

Williamson's Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-naped Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Lewis's Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

American Three-toed Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

White-headed Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Browse Species in This Family

More to Read

NestWatchBuild a Nest Box for Pileated Woodpecker
Bird AcademyBuilt to Peck: How Woodpeckers Avoid Brain Injury
Why do woodpeckers like to hammer on houses? And what can I do about it?
The Basics of Bird Migration: How, Why, and Where
Attract Birds With Birdbaths
Birding Festivals and Events

About Us

Contact Us

Follow us

© 2024 Cornell University

Search for species name or keywords

Or Browse Bird Guide by Family or Shape

Need Bird ID Help? Try Merlin

Don't miss a thing! Join our email list

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds,
birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.