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WOOPECKERS
BY YVIE
Basic Facts About Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are known for tapping on tree trunks in order to find insects living in crevices in the bark and to
excavate nest cavities. There are over 180 species of woodpeckers, all in the family Picidae.
© Helmut Mueller
Diet
Woodpeckers primarily eat insects, along with fruit, acorns and nuts.
Population
Due to their international dispersal, overall woodpecker population numbers are unknown.
There have been reported sightings of at least one ivory-billed woodpecker in the last five
years, while red-cockaded woodpecker populations are estimated to between 5,000 and
10,000 individuals throughout its range.
Range
Did You Know?
Woodpeckers have bristle-like feathers over their nostrils help to keep wood particles from
being inhaled.
Woodpeckers can be found in wooded areas all over the world, except in Australia. The
ivory-billed woodpecker was rediscovered in Arkansas in 2006. According to scientists, there
may be a second population in the cypress forests of Florida’s panhandle. The red-cockaded
woodpecker can be found through the southeast of the United States from Texas to the
Atlantic Coast and north to Virginia.
Behaviour
The woodpecker's strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel and a crowbar to remove bark
and find hiding insects. It has a very long tongue, up to four inches in some species - with a
glue-like substance on the tip for catching insects.
While most birds have one toe pointing back and three pointing forward on each foot,
woodpeckers have two sharply clawed toes pointing in each direction to help them grasp the
sides of trees and balance while they hammer - this formation is called zygodactal feet. Many
woodpecker species also have stiffened tail feathers, which they press against a tree surface
to help support their weight.
Woodpeckers live in wooded areas and forests, where they tap on tree trunks in order to find
insects living in crevices in the bark and to excavate nest cavities. Some species drum on trees
to communicate to other woodpeckers and as a part of their courtship behavior.
Woodpeckers tap an estimated 8,000-12,000 times per day. Some species require very specific
conditions for their home. For example, the red-cockaded woodpecker can only live in
mature pine forests in the southeastern United States.
Reproduction
Mating Season: Varies by species.
Gestation: Varies by species.
Clutch size Around 4 eggs.
Male and female woodpeckers work together to excavate a cavity in a tree that is used as a
nest and to incubate eggs for about two weeks. When a woodpecker hatches, it is blind and
does not have any feathers. One parent brings food to the nest while the other parent stays
with the young. The young generally leave the nest after 25 - 30 days.
Fast Facts
Size: One of the largest woodpecker species is the ivory-billed woodpecker, which was
thought to be extinct for the greater part of the 20th century and then rediscovered in 2005.
This species measures from 19 to 21 inches in length and weighs from 1 to 1.25 pounds. The
smallest woodpecker in North America is the downy woodpecker, which reaches only 6 or 7
inches in length.
Lifespan: On average, woodpeckers live from 4-11 years.
Protection Status
Endangered Species Act: Endangered
IUCN Red List: Endangered