I'm a biologist and have worked on birds (including Pileateds) for most of my
life. I've also lived around Pileated in various parts of the country since I was
a kid, and have had suet feeders in my yard all of that time in rural settings.
I've had about every other kind of woodpecker come to my suet feeders
(various sizes as well)(except flickers, I think), but never Pileateds including
here in Seattle where they are daily visitors to my yard. However, rarely, I
have heard other people mention that they have had them come to their suet
feeders......So, I surmise that it does happen, but probably is rare. Why? I'm
not sure. Perhaps it has to do with the proximity of the feeder to human/pet
activity and/or distance from "safety (forest cover etc.).

Chris Thompson, Ph.D.
Research Scientist
Washington Dept. of Fish and Wildlife