Uncommonly Beautiful Red-headed Woodpeckers Just Arrived in Pittsburgh

If you're a birder or bird photographer in Pittsburgh then you may have already heard. If not then I'm happy to tell you that red-headed woodpeckers have shown up in Pittsburgh's North Park.

Big Local Birding News

The arrival of a pair of red-headed woodpeckers has even made waves on the local news both for broadcast news and for the once popular Pittsburgh Post Gazette, a newspaper that many in the region have kept boycotting for over two years due to their terrible labor practices and in support of their striking workers. As such, I will not link to their scab written article.

Rare Birds

The Audubon Society lists them as birds of least concerns but notes that they are declining. They note that their numbers are dropping and that they're more rare in locations they were once common in. That said, they also point out that when males, like these two, prepare a site over the winter that they often become breeding sites. As such, I'm crossing my fingers hoping they'll stay and begin to have babies.

Where to Find Them

These two red-headed woodpeckers are in North Park. If you're familiar with the park you need to drive past the pool. Then, look for the Elwood Shelter. Between this shelter and the intersection in the road just past it is a swampy grove of trees. If you follow the Rachel Carson Trail into this area then you should find them. Of course, there isn't any guarantee they'll stay. However, if we're quiet and respectful they should have luck in the area.

Red-headed Woodpecker photos

I plan to spend a bit more time photographing these beautiful birds this winter. That said, I did get a chance to see them on a rainy Friday the week before Thanksgiving. As a result, I managed to get these couple of decent photos, all things considered. Enjoy!

Red-headed Woodpeckers

7 photos

I'm professional nature photographer Don Orkoskey. Be sure to take a look at my nature portfolio, bird photos, fine art, and the rest of my work. View the articles on my blog and be sure to follow me on social media accounts:

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