This male Pileated Woodpecker (note red crown all the way to the bill and red cheek “malar” stripe) will do much of the early excavation on a new nest and the female tends to add final touches before laying eggs. While they will often use the nest as a roost for the rest of the year and base for their home-range, nests are rarely re-used a second time, Such a large cavity, once abandoned may serve as home to many other animals; birds, bats, raccoons, etc.
