THE  PILEATED  WOODPECKER:  (Dryocopus pileatus) of the family Picidae is  North America's largest woodpecker, recognizable by its large size, striking red crest, and bold black-and-white plumage. This species is distinguished by a red "mustache" stripe on males and a black stripe on females. They are known for their loud, whinnying calls and the large, rectangular holes they create in dead or decaying trees while searching for carpenter ants, their primary food source. These keystone species also excavate cavities that provide habitat for other animals, and their presence in a forest is a sign of a healthy ecosystem.