Pileated Woodpecker

This morning I heard, then saw two crow-sized male Pileated Woodpeckers - black feet and black bill and red head, looking all pretty.  It reminded me of the time when our youngest son, David, was about four.  He was playing outside and came running in all breathless and excited and red faced, "Mom, come quick! There's a ptarodactyl in the tree!"  If you've ever seen how gangly they fly, with head jutted out and lifting themselves clumsily on huge black and white wings, each stroke of the wing is loudly accompanied with a chuckle call, similar to a bird in Tarzan movies. (but not the peacock).  Add to this the pointed feather tuft at the back of their head, and why yes, these woodpeckers DO favor the prehistoric bird! 

Come, my little dinosaur.  No need to bang your beak into the trees for a snack...A feast of neon-green hornworms that are wreaking havoc in my tomato plants awaits you!