Moustaches all around?

My dedication and interest in wildlife doesn't stop for no hangover!

I saw this beautiful Pileated Woodpecker just outside my cottage early new years day. The sound of it pecking the tree woke me up. Not being fully awake I stumbled and stomped through the deep snow in my pajamas to get close enough for a decent picture.

My reasoning was that I would be able to identify the species better by looking at the pictures I took once I got some caffeine in me and was more awake.

Pileated Woodpeckers are very common around our cottage and in Ontario. The dead trees on our property are filled with lots of yummy bugs and grubs which provide the necessary nutrition for many overwintering birds. The males woodpeckers have a red moustache and females have a grey one so I was able to determine that this was a male.

I respect animals for the natural way they look and all that but I think it would be kind of cool if more of them had moustaches like the Pileated Woodpecker?! Also, mohawks. Lots of birds have similar crests to Pileated Woodpeckers, but I can't think of many mammals with cool mohawk-like crests.

#Woodpecker #Cottage #Photography