It’s a little after 7 a.m. and we’re in our second-floor office trying to get some writing done. The shades in front of us are closed because the morning sun beams in and makes us squint. A large shadow suddenly looms….
It’s a Pileated Woodpainter! This is an elusive species that appears here only about every 12 years. This friendly Pileated Woodpainter should not be confused with the shy Pileated Woodpecker, although both are high climbers and have caps (that’s what “pileated” means).
A quick way to tell the difference between the Pileated Woodpecker and the Pileated Woodpainter is to compare their large bills: the Woodpecker’s is bone; the Woodpainter’s is paper. (Brooklin, Maine)