- The downy woodpecker is a common variety of woodpecker in North America.
Woodpeckers are best known for making holes in trees to find insects to eat. These birds are found all over the world, except in the region of Australia and New Guinea. Where woodpeckers liveWoodpeckers live all over North America. They generally prefer to live in the woods, though some types also live in gardens and the countryside. Some common North American types are the acorn woodpecker, the red-headed woodpecker, the downy woodpecker, and the flicker. Woodpeckers are most abundant in South America and Southeast Asia. The crimson-backed woodpecker is common throughout India and the Philippine Islands. The green woodpecker lives in the woods of Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The black woodpecker is found in Europe and Asia. Physical characteristicsWoodpeckers vary in size. The downy woodpecker, for example, is about 6 inches (15 centimeters) long, and the pileated woodpecker is about 16–19 inches (41–48 centimeters) long. Most woodpeckers fly with short swoops and spend most of their lives in and around trees. Woodpeckers cling to tree trunks with the help of specially adapted feet. Each foot has two toes pointing forward and two pointing backward. The strong and rigid tail feathers help the woodpecker hold itself against the tree. The woodpecker also has powerful neck muscles that help drive the beak into tough bark. Food habitsWoodpeckers eat mainly insects, which they reach by making holes in tree bark. This does not hurt the trees in any way. In fact, the woodpeckers eat insects that are harmful to the tree. Woodpeckers have long, sticky tongues that trap insects. Some species even have barbed tongues, which stab small, wormlike larvae and other insect life. Certain species, such as the red-headed woodpecker, also eat fruits. BehaviorWoodpeckers are normally quiet birds, but the male calls loudly in the spring. He adds to this noise by pecking on trees and even metal sheets. This noise warns other males to stay away but attracts females. When woodpeckers want to lay eggs, both the male and the female work together to make a short, down-sloping tunnel in the trunk of a tree. This tunnel ends in a round nest chamber. The chamber is then lined with twigs and wood chips, after which the female lays two to eight eggs. The male plays no role in taking care of the young. |