7 replies to this topic

[rogerVA]

1. Hoping this is a Pileated Woodpecker? It was very high on the top of a dead tree and it's call seems to match what I've heard online. Wish it would have given me a better view, but beggars can't be choosers.



2. Summer Tanager?



3. An oriole of some sort? I have a couple other photos of it looking quite fluffy..

[meghann]

1.-yes
2.-yes
3.-pass, although a female summer tanager has similar coloring, I think the bill is wrong.

[Kryptos18]

That last one looks like a fledgling Orchard Oriole.

[spookyjimjams]

Agreed with Meghann on 1 & 2, and Kryptos on 3.

[rogerVA]

Thanks! So that's a young female Orchard Oriole?

Are Pileated Woodpeckers fairly common here in VA? I'd have loved to got a better look at him/her. I bet they can do some serious tree damage!

[psweet]

I would expect Pileated's to be fairly common anywhere in VA with deep forest. They mostly forage on dead trees, and they can really tear them up.

[BarnSwallow]

Where in VA are you? I've seen/heard them in Front Royal. I'm in MD and they're quite common here, so I'm sure they are in VA too. As psweet said, they forage on dead and dying trees, so they don't damage trees. The only reason they tear up a tree is to get grubs and bugs that have bored into a tree - they're what damages trees.

[meghann]

I saw my first pileated in Virginia, so pretty sure they're common. I saw mine in Gloucester at Beaverdam Park. I hear them a lot more than I see them, though. I have to catch one on camera!