Pileated Woodpecker Facts for Kids

Today, I’m sharing Pileated Woodpecker facts for kids.  The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest member of the woodpecker family.  Its name comes from the Latin word Pileatus, meaning capped.  The Pileated Woodpecker prefers wooded areas with large, mature trees.  These woodpeckers create large holes in dead trees for nests. The holes are so large, they would snap a small tree. 

I have created a Pileated Woodpecker fact sheet, word search puzzle, fill in the blank, and added a few coloring pages and connect the dot worksheet for a little for the younger kids. Also, the worksheets make a great homeschool unit or an extra educational activity for kids to learn about the Pileated Woodpecker.  

 

 

pileated woodpecker facts for kids

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker Facts for Kids: 

  • Males have a red cheek stripe, females have black stripes. 
  • Pileated Woodpeckers eat carpenter ants, beetles, fruits, nuts and will visit suet feeders.
  • They pull bark off trees to find ants.
  • Nests are large holes bored into large tree trunks. 
  • Females lay  2 – 5 white eggs.  Both the male and female keep the eggs warm.  However, the male keeps them warm at night.
  • Eggs hatch in 2 weeks. 
  • Babies stay with parents for 30 days. 

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker facts for kids

 

 

 

  • Pileated Woodpeckers drum to help establish boundaries and to scare away rivals.  They also drum when digging for food and building their nest. 
  • They stay in their territory year round. 
  • Their claws a large so they can grip trees. 
  • Nesting areas have several entrances so it can be large enough to house up to five off-spring. 
  • Females pick their mates based on the best nesting area.  
  • Pileated Woodpeckers only use wood chips for nesting material.
  • Nests are not reused the next breeding season.

 

 

Pileated Woodpecker Facts for Kids

 

Finally, you can attract the Pileated Woodpecker to your backyard with a Pileated Woodpecker suet feeder.  Since the Pileated Woodpecker is a large bird, they need a large feeder.  They love suet.  So, make my homemade Crunchy Apple Raisin Suet Cake to keep this beauty coming back. Download the Pileated Woodpecker Worksheets and enjoy.  

 

Check out my other bird facts for kids before you: 

Bald Eagle Facts

Interesting Facts About Blue Jay for Kids 

Kids Bird Identification Tips

Facts About Baby Blue Jays

 

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