Resident spots rare Pileated Woodpecker, our largest woodpecker, in backyard among dead trees.

An Athol Daily News article details a resident's sighting of a rare Pileated Woodpecker, our largest woodpecker species, exploring dead pine trees in their yard. These birds prefer vast, undisturbed forests and nest in dead trees, often near water. The male excavates nest holes, and both parents feed the chicks. Once abandoned, these nests are used by other birds like owls and ducks. The woodpecker observed was an adult female with a 17-inch body and 30-inch wingspan.