-Great shot! It's always exciting to see this too- big- for the backyard "Pterodactyl"!! ; at least it looks like one to me! :o)) -do you know what he's feeding on? Is the Birch tree in some stage of decomposition?

- I now see in your sighting details, that it is a crabapple tree! And I'm thinking that it might be pruning paint on one side of the tree?

Nice looking female! I love those Piliated's.

-tawnyowl15,- actually, all shots appear to show red foreheads and red mustaches, which would make the backyard visitor a male; females have black foreheads and black mustaches.

Jim, you're right about the "Pterodactyl": I couldn't figure out what it reminded me of and that's it! There were two, one of which stayed in the trees outside our yard. It may have been a female, as it didn't seem to have as much red on its head and face. We were really excited to see them and even more so when the one came into our yard. Last October was the first time we had one of these visitors and, while we had caught glimpses of them in the tall trees since then, they never came into the yard again until yesterday. Tawnyowl 15, I agree with you: I love 'em too! :o) :o)

Oh, I forgot to answer Jim's question. I don't know what it was feeding on, but it left holes in the tree-trunk. I'm not sure what kind of paint my husband used, but it was an attempt to seal and protect the tree from the predations of the smaller, Downy Woodpeckers - especially since it was very "sick" this spring & summer. It produced an amazing display of blossoms in the spring, but few leaves or fruit in the summer. Next spring will be decision time: if it recovers, fine. If not, unfortunately, we'll have to cut it down - which is a shame because it's a real favorite for the birds (especially the hummers we had last summer).

There's red on that thing? I looked for it, but didn't see it (however, there may be a reason behind that ;).) Jim, I do know to look for the red on the moustache :P. Those Pileated's have been thick this year. I'm not sure what it is, but I've seen them more this year than any other I can remember.