BirdWeb: Birds Connect Seattle's Guide to the Birds of Washington State
Bird of the Week
Pileated Woodpecker
Dryocopus pileatus
The largest woodpecker in North America, Pileated Woodpeckers can be sustained in any forest type -- broadleaved, coniferous, or mixed -- as long as there are trees large enough for roosting and nesting. Like all woodpeckers, the Pileated eats insects. Look for the characteristic oval-shaped holes in the trees where they forage.
Birding Site of the Week
Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge
Puget Trough
Ridgefield is an attraction for birders year-round, but winters brings the only wintering Sandhill Cranes in Washington State and most of our ''Dusky'' Canada Geese. The flooded areas and lakes have produced counts of up to 45,000 geese and 40,000 ducks. Hunting season usually ends in late January, so February is a good time to check out the driving tours and hiking trails.