Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

Threats

The Pileated woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America and it depends upon mature forests for its core habitat. Logging activities destroys much of this vital habitat and has had a profound impact on their existence. The removal of large diameter dead and living trees most significant impact Pileated woodpeckers by eliminating nesting, roosting and feeding sites. Forest fragmentation also reduces population density by exposing birds to predation as they fly between patches. This species has also been the victim of extensive shooting and is currently protected from such actions though they are still shot to this day. Other threats considered to be most influential in the demise of species include; the conversion of forest habitats to non-forested habitats; monoculture, and plantation style forestry; forest fragmentation; and removal of fallen logs and downed wood from the forest floor. In particular, the removal of logging residue and downed wood takes away the nutrients and foraging opportunities for Pileated Woodpeckers and also reduces the overall water content of the forest floor, making it less suitable for the insect species that species is dependent on.

Habitat

Pileated woodpeckers occupy areas with mature, late successional forests that contain a lot of dead trees, or snags. They typically excavate one large nest each year in the cavities of these snags, thus creating habitat for other large cavity nesters as they move on to new nest sites. The Pileated woodpecker occupies both coniferous and deciduous forests and they can also be found along river corridors. Its primary food consists of carpenter ants living in fallen timber, dead roots, and stumps. It is found on each National Forest in the Sierra Nevada and therefore its range is quite diverse.

Conservation

Pileated woodpeckers play an important role within their ecosystems as a keystone species by excavating nesting and roosting cavities that are subsequently used by many other birds and by many small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Appropriate management for maintaining viable habitat and populations should focus on maintaining foraging and nesting habitat, and retaining dead and dying trees in a range of habitats. Clear-cutting of old-growth and other forests currently has the most significant impact on Pileated woodpecker habitat. Riparian forested habitats along rivers and large streams are also vitally important to Pileated woodpeckers and as such logging operations in riparian areas can be especially devastating.

Status

The Pileated Woodpecker is not currently listed as a threatened or endangered species, although it is a protected species. National Forests in the Sierra Nevada which currently list the species as a management indicator species are the Eldorado, Lassen, Modoc, Sequoia, Stanislaus National Forests and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit.