Last fall, our woods were within the territory of a pair of pileated woodpeckers, our largest woodpeckers at about 16 ½ inches in length. This pair would come looping through like prehistoric pterodactyls, calling maniacally to each other. We expected them to be good neighbors, since pileateds usually don’t migrate, mate for life, and are very territorial.

Then, as winter began, the female was flying alone, silent. We saw her periodically in November and December, still alone and silent. In January, she disappeared – or, at least, she failed to appear where we could see her.

Last week, however, we saw her. Or, at least, we saw a lone female silently foraging in our trees and on the ground. We hope that it’s she. We also hope that another Mr. Right comes by and that maniacal laughing returns to our woods.

By the way, “pileated” means “crested” or “capped,” which these birds certainly are. They may have been the model for the Walter Lantz Studio’s very crested and much-exaggerated cartoon figure Woody Woodpecker, especially for Woody’s incredible laugh. (Brooklin, Maine)

In the Right Place: For Laughs