Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Pileated Woodpecker
Scientific name:	Dryocopus Pileatus
Date:	4-28-2026
Time:	8:30 AM
Length of time observed:	3 minutes
Number:	1
Age:	adult
Sex:	female
Location:	Utah Lake State Park
County:	Utah
Latilong:	Salt Lake City-Provo
Elevation:	4488
Distance to bird:	20 yards
Optical equipment:	8 x 43 Zen Ray binoculars and Nikon Monarch 7 10 x 42 and Olympus EM5 Mk2 W/ 0m 100-400 mk 2 lens
Weather:	sunny, blue skies, calm
Light Conditions:	morning light, no obstruction of sun on clouds
Description: Size of bird:	Large woodpecker size or small buteo size
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Woody Woodpecker Shape
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	black, white, red
(Description:) Bill Type:	woodpecker pointed bill
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	We were birding in the area on the south side of the old river channel in Utah Lake State Park when I saw in the corner of my eye a larger bird flying in over me and after it passed it called. I quickly started racking my brain what it could be based on seeing a glimpse and hearing the bird and I thought Red-shouldered Hawk or Broad-winged Hawk. (Pileated wasn't on the mind) I told Eli about it and how we should walk into the area it flew to investigate in case it was something like the aforementioned birds. we walked around a fence and saw the bird up in a dead tree snag and put our binoculars on it and were very surprised by what we saw. It was a large woodpecker with a jet black back and red crest. I noticed white on the leading edge of the folded wing, white in the supercillium area, a black line through the eye that extended down into that extended into the nape. It also had a white chin and black line extending from lower mandible 0nd wrapping around to the chest, which was also all black, as was the belly. there was a white area extending from upper mandible extending into the cheek and neck. We noticed no red around the mandible, signaling this was a female bird. It maneuvered around on the dead snag before flying again towards another group of trees 100 yards away where we lost it. Eli was able to photograph it as he had his camera handy. (see photos)
Song or call & method of delivery:	Heard it call while it flew initially. It was a rising laughing type call that faded as it stopped. I heard it call at least twice, the second time while it was in a group of trees near the old river channel. It was similar to the 4th call on Merlin.
Behavior:	Flying, landing on a dead vertical snag and moving up the snag looking for food before flying again towards a group of trees where we lost sight of the bird.
Habitat:	riparian lake front, trees, snags.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	Pretty distinct species, and the two most similar are most likely extinct and would not be seen in Utah, so those are eliminated on the fact they haven't been seen in decades.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have seen many pileated woodpeckers ranging from the west coast, to the northern rockies, to the southeast U.S.
References consulted:	Sibley guide
Description from:	Notes taken at the time of the sighting From photo(s) taken at the time of the sighting
Observer:	KC Childs
Observer's address:	Orem, UT
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	Eli Phillip
Date prepared:	May 12, 2026
Additional material:	Photos
Additional comments:	There are photos on an ebird checklist I emailed and additional photos to show context.