Woodpeckers are a diverse group of birds known for their distinctive feeding habits and widespread presence across various habitats. They extract sustenance from trees and other environments. While their diet is varied, it primarily centers on specific food sources.
Primary Dietary Staples
Woodpeckers predominantly consume insects, especially those found within wood. Wood-boring larvae, beetles, and ants constitute a significant portion of their diet, with some species, like the Pileated Woodpecker, having diets where ants can comprise up to half of their warm-weather intake. They extract these invertebrates by excavating holes in trees, using their strong bills to access prey. The protein-rich nature of these insects provides the necessary energy for their foraging activities.
Beyond insects, tree sap serves as an important food source for many woodpecker species, especially sapsuckers. These birds create “sap wells” by drilling rows of small holes into tree trunks, allowing them to drink the flowing sap. Sap provides a source of sugars, which are important when insects are less abundant. Some woodpeckers also consume insects that become trapped in the sticky sap, adding nutrition.
Seasonal and Supplemental Foods
Woodpeckers supplement their primary diet with a variety of other foods, depending on seasonal and local availability. Nuts, such as acorns and beechnuts, are important, especially in the fall and winter when insects are scarcer. Some species, like the Acorn Woodpecker, are known for caching acorns in specialized holes in trees, fence posts, or buildings.
Seeds, berries, and fruits also contribute to their diet, providing carbohydrates and nutrients. Red-bellied woodpeckers, for instance, consume more plant matter, including fruits and nuts, than some other woodpecker species. These supplemental foods are important during colder months, helping non-migratory woodpeckers sustain themselves when insects decline.
Specialized Tools for Foraging
Woodpeckers’ feeding methods are supported by specialized physical adaptations. Their strong, chisel-like beaks are designed for drilling into wood, to access insects and create nesting cavities. Its layered structure provides strength and flexibility to absorb impact forces. Bristly feathers around their nostrils help filter out wood dust and debris during drilling, protecting their respiratory system.
Woodpeckers possess long tongues, often extending several inches beyond their beaks, which are barbed and coated with sticky saliva. This combination allows them to capture and extract insects from wood crevices and tunnels. The tongue’s extensibility is due to a hyoid apparatus, a system of bones and muscles that wraps around the skull. This arrangement allows the tongue to be rapidly projected and retracted.
Their bodies are also adapted for climbing and bracing against tree trunks. Woodpeckers have zygodactyl feet, with two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward, providing a secure grip on bark. Their stiff, pointed tail feathers act as a prop, bracing against the tree trunk. This combination of specialized feet and tail feathers enables them to maintain an upright posture and withstand pecking forces.