Woodpeckers are among the most recognizable birds, known for their distinctive pecking against trees. This unique behavior, often heard echoing through forests and even suburban neighborhoods, serves multiple purposes. Understanding why these birds peck offers insight into their survival strategies and their role in ecosystems.
The Primary Reasons for Pecking
Woodpeckers peck for several distinct reasons, each serving a different biological need. A primary motivation is foraging for food, as they seek insects living beneath bark or within wood. They detect wood-boring insects like beetle larvae, ants, and termites, then excavate to extract them using their long, barbed tongues. Some species, like sapsuckers, create small rows of holes to access nourishing tree sap, also consuming insects trapped in the fluid.
Another reason for pecking is the excavation of cavities for nesting and roosting. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters, creating shelters within trees for raising young or sleeping. These cavities provide protection from predators and the elements. Most species prefer to excavate in dead or decaying wood, which is easier to carve, though some use living trees with softer wood or damaged sections.
Beyond foraging and excavation, woodpeckers also engage in “drumming.” This rhythmic pecking is a form of communication, distinct from pecking for food or nests. Drumming announces territorial claims, attracts mates, and signals their presence to other birds. They often select resonant surfaces, such as hollow trees, branches, or human-made structures, to amplify the sound and ensure their message travels farther. Both male and female woodpeckers participate in drumming, particularly during the late winter and early spring breeding season.
Amazing Adaptations for Pecking
Woodpeckers withstand repetitive, high-impact pecking without brain injury due to several adaptations. Their skulls are uniquely structured, featuring thicker bone and spongy, compressible bone, particularly in the forehead and back of the skull. This internal cushioning helps to absorb and dissipate the forces generated during pecking.
Their strong neck muscles provide powerful, controlled strikes while absorbing much of the impact. The beak itself distributes force, with the upper beak absorbing more shock than the lower. These features contribute to the bird’s capacity for rapid, forceful pecking, which can occur at high speeds and with significant force.
Their unique hyoid apparatus, a bone supporting the tongue, is another adaptation. In many species, this elongated bone wraps around the skull, sometimes over the top and back of the head, before connecting to the tongue. This structure allows for extreme tongue extension, often barbed to retrieve insects, and helps stabilize the brain and skull during impacts, acting like a natural seatbelt.
When Woodpeckers Peck Human Structures
Woodpeckers sometimes extend their natural pecking behaviors to human-made structures. This activity often mirrors their natural motivations for pecking in trees. They might be foraging for insects, especially if siding or trim has an underlying infestation like carpenter ants or termites. The vibrations from their pecking can help them locate these hidden food sources.
Another reason for pecking on homes is drumming for communication. Hard surfaces on houses, such as wooden shingles, cedar siding, metal gutters, or satellite dishes, provide excellent resonance, amplifying sounds used to establish territory or attract mates. This is common during the spring breeding season. Woodpeckers may also attempt to excavate nesting or roosting cavities in softer woods of buildings if natural sites are scarce or the wood is aged.
Coexisting with Woodpeckers
When woodpeckers target human structures, several humane strategies can encourage them to find more appropriate natural sites. Visual deterrents, such as reflective tape, scare balloons, or holographic devices, can frighten birds away from problem areas. These should be placed close to where the pecking occurs.
Sound deterrents, including devices that emit loud noises, woodpecker distress calls, or predator calls, can also be effective. These audio methods create an environment perceived as unsafe by the birds. For persistent issues, physical barriers like bird netting or wire mesh can be installed over affected areas to prevent direct access. Repellent paints with an unpleasant taste or scent for birds are also available for application.