"FLOWN THE NEST"

Pileated Woodpecker (Immature) - 9 Photos

Not certain if this was the only youngster born to a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers or whether he was the last to leave the nest. He might have been last to leave but definitely not last in looks and cuteness.

And definitely a male as this youngster is clearly displaying a dark red moustache just to the left of his bill.

Although he was shadowed this particular morning by his father and only having recently left home, this young Pileated has already learnt the basics of flying, albeit some of the landings may not have been so graceful.

And there was a brief handoff of food by his parent early on, but generally the morning was spent drilling into trees for food on his own, with time out for some grooming. 

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