(Please see picture gallery below) August Bird of the Month will be the Pileated Woodpecker. It’s hard to mistake August’s woodpecker, the Pileated, whether you’re “only” hearing it, or you have it in sight. The boldly patterned face, large size, and bright flash of white in the wings all shout “here I am!” It has a large red crest and a loud laugh-type call (the inspiration for Woody Woodpecker?), making it easy to ID by eye or ear. These are big birds, almost the size of a crow. The taxonomic name is Dryocopus pileatus, which means, loosely translated, “capped tree-cleaver.” Sometimes those scientific names make sense! It has a swooping, bounding flight, in case you ever wonder whether you’re seeing its extinct cousin, the Ivory-billed, which flew in dead-straight lines back in the day. Come to our August meeting to hear more about this fascinating Palm Beach County bird from our expert, Clive Pinnock… Come hear more about this woodpecker at our August meeting!(Photographer’s please note that next month’s September 2013 Bird will be the RED-COCKADED WOODPECKER)