Woodpeckers have their name for a good reason, they peck wood, and lots of it. Some more than others but they all can be found on trees pecking away. Many people are just used to it and don’t really think to much about it.
Like why do woodpeckers peck wood, or what are they looking for, etc etc. In this article we’ll answer some of those common questions that may seem obvious to some of you but to others they just haven’t really thought much about it.
Why do woodpeckers peck wood?
Woodpeckers peck for 5 main reasons.
- To find food – Probably the number one reason that comes to mind is to find food. Usually wood-boring insects and larvae but also tree dwelling insects like ants and beetles.
- To store food – Woodpeckers commonly peck single holes in wood to store pieces of food, like acorns, that they can come back to later.
- To make a nest – Woodpeckers nest in holes, they drill out large holes in trees and will raise their young there until they are old enough to fledge and be on their own.
- To make a sleeping hole – Sometimes woodpeckers will make separate holes just for sleeping.
- To communicate – This is usually called “drumming”. Woodpeckers do this to attract mates in addition to claiming their territory.
What kind of trees do woodpeckers prefer?
