At about 17” in length, Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) are the largest woodpeckers in North America, unless you count the probably extinct Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Accordingly, their main habitat requirement is large trees, including some that are dead and dying. Pileateds make large, extensive excavations in trees in search of ants and beetle larvae. Although pairs share a territory throughout the year, male and female birds roost separately at night. Even if they use the same tree, each bird has its own roosting cavity — probably because their large size would make sharing a cavity an uncomfortable proposition! Roost trees tend to have multiple entrances to allow birds to escape predators. Most birds have three toes in front and one behind, but many woodpeckers, including pileateds,  have two toes forward and two toes rearward giving them the ability to cling easily to vertical tree trunks. Owls and ospreys also have a 2x2 (zygodactyl) toe formation, giving them exceptional ability to hold wriggling prey.