So what happens when a five-foot snake enters the territory
of North America’s second largest woodpecker?
Well…stick around to find out!
That was one of the coolest interspecific interactions
I’ve ever seen out in the wild out here in Virginia.
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[ ♪ theme music ♪ ]
[ stream trickling ]
A large, adult northern black racer just swum across a stream in a gully.
Unfortunately for the snake, it also entered into the territory
of a mating pair of pileated woodpeckers.
The male bird is first to respond to this big threat in the undergrowth.
He moves closer with caution—
using his beak to drum the branches around him as an intimidation tactic.
You can distinguish a male pileated woodpecker from a female
by examining the coloration extending from the bill to the throat.
Males have a red coloration while this marking remains black on females.
[ stream trickling ]
This big woodpecker remains vigilant,
keeping a close eye on the snake,
not daring to venture too close.
The two square off—waiting for the other to back down.
The snake opts to remain very still,
flinching from one of the woodpecker’s strikes on the fallen tree.
[ stream trickling ] [ beak knocking wood ]
It appears the snake has decided to retreat.
But this woodpecker should not let his guard down.
A strike!
The snake’s lunge was blocked by an upturned branch—
Though this snake is nonvenomous, any snakebite is always best to avoid.
[ stream trickling ] [ beak knocking wood ]
With a nest nearby, this male pileated woodpecker
cannot allow the snake to stay.
The snake begins to retreat from this area.
You can hear the female has just arrived—calling to her mate.
[ female woodpecker calling ]
He’s a bit too preoccupied to respond.
[ birds singing ] [ stream trickling ]
She seems to have understood the situation
and joins her mate in ushering the snake away from their turf.
The snake has disappeared under the fallen branches and undergrowth.
The birds soon see it quickly slithering away in the tall grass.
They work together to keep ushering it along
until it is far enough away for them to be reassured and go about their day.
Both the woodpeckers and the snake avoided any serious injury
during this fascinating encounter.
Okay so share this video!
Other people should see that. That was so cool!
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It was so cool to see that interspecific interaction
between that mating pair of pileated woodpeckers
and what I believe was a northern racer snake.
Spread some knowledge. Be Nature-heroic! Cheers!