Rare Pileated Woodpecker Spotted On UWS In Riverside Park: PHOTO

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — The Manhattan bird-watching community was ablaze Thursday morning when a picture of a rare Pileated Woodpecker spotted in Riverside Park on the Upper West Side began circulating online.

The woodpecker was photographed against a tree by Eduardo Sarmento near West 86th Street within Riverside.

Manhattan Bird Alert, a popular Twitter account that chronicles rare birds found in the borough, said that it is "likely the park's first confirmed record of this species (Pileated Woodpecker).

Congratulations to @edu_birding on finding this rare PILEATED WOODPECKER in @RiversideParkNY near 86th Street earlier this morning, likely the park's first confirmed record of this species.
: @edu_birding. pic.twitter.com/q3CoIotnFo
— Manhattan Bird Alert (@BirdCentralPark) May 13, 2021

Sarmento wouldn't have spotted the rare bird without the help of his wife.

"My wife was walking the dogs and she wasn't sure what it was," Sarmento told Patch. "She then called me and I came to confirm it. Super excited to see this species roaming further into New York City."

Riverside Park leadership shared Sarmento's sentiment that the sight of the Pileated Woodpecker was a good sign for the park.

“It’s an unusual sight and a positive sign for New York City forests,” said Dan Garodnick, President of Riverside Park Conservancy. “We are certain this woodpecker will enjoy the natural areas of Riverside Park.”

David Barrett, who runs the Manhattan Bird Alert Twitter page, told Patch the Pileated Woodpecker has rarely been seen in Manhattan, though it does breed more commonly in Westchester County and in New Jersey.

He added that the Pileated Woodpecker does not migrate and rarely wanders far, but it does get spotted once or twice per year in Inwood Hill Park and Fort Tryon Park in Upper Manhattan.

It is the same size as a crow and is the largest North American woodpecker.

The bird is known for its flaming red crest and digs characteristically rectangular holes in trees to find ants. The holes can be so large and deep that the Pileated Woodpecker sometimes breaks small trees in half.

You can find out more about the Pileated Woodpecker on AllAboutBirds.org