Celebrate the Pileated Woodpecker, Connecticut Audubon’s 2026 Bird of the Year

Pileated Woodpecker is Connecticut Audubon’s Bird of the Year for 2026.

January 19, 2026—We’re excited to announce that Connecticut Audubon’s first-ever Bird of the Year is the Pileated Woodpecker, and that we’re holding special programs throughout the year to help you get to know this large and beautiful bird better.

The Bird of the Year program is all about celebrating birds, the places they live, and the community of people who care about them.

Our members from across the state voted, and they chose the strikingly beautiful and unmistakable Pileated Woodpecker — you might know it from the sonic grandeur of its staccato mating call and resonant drumming — to represent the importance of conservation and education, and also the importance of simply enjoying Connecticut’s birds.

Throughout the year, Connecticut Audubon’s centers and sanctuaries will be putting the spotlight on the Pileated Woodpecker. We’re planning monthly programs and experiences to show how these birds live and behave, and why they are so important to our local history and landscape. 

Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents, so celebrating them is also a perfect way to get to know the beautiful local trails and forests where they can be found.

There are many ways to get involved, and we are making sure there is something for everyone. 

• Guided woodland walks to see their habitat firsthand.
• In-person talks and hands-on programs for all ages and skill levels.
• Virtual webinars you can tune into from home.

Whether you join us for a hike or watching a presentation online, you’ll have a much deeper appreciation for the Pileated Woodpecker and the forests they call home. 

Our hope is that this program encourages everyone to take a closer look at the birds in their own backyards and join us in protecting the habitats that keep them flying.

Here’s the schedule. Check back often for more:

Tuesday, January 20, 6-7 p.m.

Bird of the Year; Pileated Woodpecker
Free introductory webinar
Joe Attwater and Heather Kordula, Connecticut Audubon’s Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center

Wednesday, February 25, 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Pileated Woodpeckers Near and Far with EcoTravel’s Matt Bell.
A free presentation at the Roger Tory Peterson Estuary Center, Old Lyme

Register HERE

Friday, March 20, 12:00 p.m.
Ask The Naturalist: Interview with Kara Snow, Avian Ecologist

What animal makes square holes in trees? It’s not a carpenter with avant-garde taste—it’s the Pileated Woodpecker. This striking forest architect chisels near-perfect rectangular cavities with the confidence of a master craftsman, its powerful bill turning dead wood into both dinner and design. Ava Michelangelo and Maggie Watson will be publishing an interview with researcher Kara Snow to talk about this fascinating bird and the ways her study will help protect them. You can watch the video through YouTube, Facebook, or Instagram once it goes live!

Connecticut Audubon Society, Center at Pomfret
Early Morning Bird Walks
Tuesdays, April 7, 14, 21, and 28, at 8 a.m.

Join us for a guided spring bird walk through the meadows and forests of Pomfret, Connecticut. As the landscape wakes up in April, these habitats come alive with birdsong, movement, and seasonal surprises. We’ll stroll at an easy pace, listening and looking for a variety of meadow and woodland species — and with any luck, we may hear or even spot the iconic Pileated Woodpecker, a frequent presence along the route.

This walk is perfect for birders of all levels, from curious beginners to seasoned observers, and offers a chance to slow down, sharpen your senses, and experience Pomfret’s natural beauty in early spring. Bring binoculars, sturdy footwear, and a sense of curiosity. Registration not required. Fee: $5 CAS members; $20 non-members.

Sunday, June 14, 10 a.m. – noon

Pileated Woodpeckers & Forest Birds (class / walk)
Join us at Deer Pond Farm for a program on Pileated Woodpeckers, and other forest birds, sharing the same habitat. Lori Lichtenauer Sanctuary Manager / Naturalist will share unique adaptations of the Pileated Woodpeckers to survive and thrive year-round in the forests of the northeast. You will learn how Pileateds excavate holes in trees for nesting and to find wood boring insects to eat. Pileated woodpeckers are some of the only birds capable of creating large cavities for nesting, roosting, and shelter in bad weather for a variety of bird species. Non-migratory birds like tufted titmice, house wrens, chickadees and more use old Pileated cavities as their nest sites. Learn about the ways the forest community benefits from the industrious nature of the Pileated. The program will start in our classroom, then we’ll be on the wooded trails around our main campus birding. All birding levels welcome. Recommended for ages 10 and up. 

Register HERE