Birds of Lake Tahoe: Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

The Pileated Woodpecker is one of my absolute most favorite birds. It’s not necessarily rare or endangered. However, it’s an elusive bird nonetheless. And it’s impossible not to feel wonder and awe when you see one in the wild thanks to its large black body contrasted by a striped face and red-capped head. Twelve species…