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The
woodpecker’s strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel
and a crowbar to remove bark and find hiding insects. Woodpeckers
are known for tapping 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 to 12,000 times per day.
The Woodpecker also 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. Many woodpecker species also have stiffened
tail feathers, which they press against a tree surface to
help support their weight.
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