Woodpecker Facts
Woodpecker Facts
2. The woodpecker ranges in size from 7-17 in. in length with brightly contrasting colorations, depending on the species. Most males have some red on the head with black and white marks.
3. The Pileated Woodpecker adults have a red crest, dark bills, white chins with a small, white “eye stripe” that extends from behind the eye to the red crest.
4. The Red-bellied Woodpecker is sandy brown on the belly, throat, chin, and sides of face; light reddish wash on the belly; black-and-white barring on the back and wings.
5. Both the males and females have red napes (lower portion of the neck or back of head).
6. The Red-cockaded Woodpecker has a white breast and belly, with black spots on the outer breast. Males have a small red tuft behind the eye that is difficult to see.
7. The Northern Flicker looks more brown overall, does not have the red nape or crown, has a large white rump patch, and has a black bib.
8. The Red-headed Woodpecker has a completely red head and a very striking black and white body pattern, with black on the tail, outer flight feathers, and main portion of the wing.
9. The Downy Woodpecker and the Hairy Woodpecker both have white backs rather than the black and white ladder found on the Red-cockaded Woodpecker.
10. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has a red forehead and white patches on its wings and rump.
11. The bill of a woodpecker is long and chisel - like. They generally have a stiff pointed tail and short legs.
12. Woodpeckers have zygodactyl (two toes pointing forward and two pointing backwards) feet. They have a unique arrangement of tendons in the toes and distinctive leg muscles that help them forage in trees.
13. Woodpeckers have characteristic calls, but they also use a rhythmic pecking sequence to make their presence known. Referred to as “drumming”, it establishes their territories and apparently attracts or signals mates. Drumming is generally done on resonant dead tree trunks, buildings, homes, and utility poles.
14. Woodpeckers take prey by drilling or prying loose bark off trees and occasionally fallen logs. Once a tree is found that has high insect numbers (usually a dead or dying tree), large amounts of the tree may be removed in search of prey. The holes it excavates to gather food can be very large and are usually oval shaped.
15. The Red-bellied Woodpecker is a dominant species and it will take the only cavities available, pushing out other species if necessary. They are also known to be nest predators, commonly taking nestlings and eggs from other cavity nests. They use their stiff tail and distinctly arranged toes (two toes pointing forward and two toes facing backward) to balance as they move up and down tree trunks and branches to pick prey off trees.
16. They will also eat on the ground or from bird feeders in more urban areas. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker diet consists mostly of wood-boring insects such as beetle larvae, but it may also eat other insects, fruits, and seeds.
17. The female lays 3-5 (usually 4) eggs that both adults incubate for 15-18 days. The male incubates at night and the female during the day. Both adults care for the young while they are in the nest. The young are altricial, or naked and blind at birth.
18. Although it is said that woodpeckers do not like shiny materials, they have been known to do otherwise. Therefore, when a Woodpecker pecks at shiny objects he is probably drumming (he likes the sound) or he sees his reflection. If he still pecks at it, then it is possibly due to his seeing a reflection of himself and thinking it is another bird.
19. A Woodpecker’s tongue is so long that it is stored behind the skull when it is not being used.
20. Nostrils on a Woodpecker’s beak are narrow slits to prevent sawdust from entering.
21. A special muscle at the base of the beak acts as a shock absorber when drilling.
22. The Hairy Woodpecker is a mostly black and white bird that is approximately 8-9 inches in length. The male has a red patch on the back of the head, with black upper parts and white underparts. The head has a black eyeline and mustache stripe on an otherwise white face.
23. Woodpeckers feed mainly on wood-boring grubs, insects, insect eggs and pupae. They also consume sap, nuts, and the fruit of some trees and shrubs.
24. Hairy Woodpeckers are shy and are usually found in pairs.
25. Both black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers have only three toes rather than the four of other woodpeckers. This in no way impairs their ability to climb.
26. Woodpeckers can easily be attracted to backyard bird feeders with sunflower seeds or suet. Suet is a kind of animal fat that is very tasty to woodpeckers and other birds.
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