The Bird Collection

Pileated Woodpecker, Tylee Marsh

Pileated Woodpecker – Tylee Marsh

Towering above most of its kin, the Pileated Woodpecker is one of the largest native woodpeckers in North America. Though they’re year-round residents in our region, they remain elusive—a sighting is never guaranteed unless you’ve been fortunate enough to find a nesting spot.

Come spring, when the snow begins to melt, one may notice the telltale signs of their presence: strips of shattered bark lying at the base of old trees—evidence of recent foraging, and quiet reassurance that these forest spirits are still among us.

In this photograph, I was lucky to meet one at eye level. The composition captures the bird clinging to its world of textured bark, its vibrant crest glowing like a flame against the muted woodland tones. A fleeting moment of connection with a creature often heard but rarely seen.