Learn About Chipmunks, Bats, Squirrels and Birds!
Hey there, fellow nature enthusiasts! Ever heard that peculiar sound while walking through a forest, the rhythmic knocking that echoes through the trees? That’s not Mother Nature’s drumline; it’s the fascinating work of the woodpecker.
In this article, we’ll delve into “19 Fun Facts About Woodpeckers” that are sure to ruffle your feathers in delight!
If you have a woodpecker that wakes you up by pecking on your windows, siding or chimney cap then I can appreciate how annoying it can be. A lot of folks get so fed up with nuisance woodpeckers that they want to solve the problem through extermination methods.
That raises the question of, “Is it Illegal to Kill a Woodpecker?”
The short answer? “Yes, it is illegal to kill a woodpecker as, in the U.S., woodpeckers are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).”
If you love watching cardinals at your bird feeder and he squirrels are driving you nuts then you might want to take some inspiration for my Ultimate Squirrel Proof Bird Feeder Setup for Cardinals.
This setup does cost a little bit on money to implement but I believe the final results are worth the investment.
Let’s take a closer look at what I have done.
The aptly named woodpecker is a fascinating bird—this animal is both resourceful and entertaining, giving birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts an easy, audible identifier: pecking! Listening to woodpeckers tapping on trees is a lot of fun but hearing them beat their heads against metal chimney caps, metal lamp posts or even satellite receiver dishes can seem pretty strange!
If you are wondering why woodpeckers peck on metal then you are not alone as it is a very common question! In this article, we’ll be exploring the four main reasons that woodpeckers peck and identify the two reasons why woodpeckers can often be found pecking on metal surfaces.
For the TL/DR crowd: Woodpeckers peck on metal because they want to be as loud as possible!
When woodpeckers go to work ‘drilling’ for the insects they rely on for food, we can clearly see that they do significant damage to the tree trunks they peck. Observing this behavior, it’s a reasonable question to ask: “Do Woodpeckers Kill Trees?”.
In this article, we’ll be answering this question using data that biologists and arborologists have discovered. Hopefully, in learning more about the ‘true’ damage that woodpeckers cause, you can develop a newfound appreciation for these fascinating and resourceful birds.
So, do woodpeckers kill trees? Woodpeckers do minor damage to individual trees but are extremely critical in helping a forest stay healthy. So, overall, woodpeckers are highly beneficial for trees as a whole. Let’s take a closer look at why!
Pileated Woodpeckers are a unique and majestic sight to behold: their bold, red head plumage and trademark, black-and-white patterning make them very easy to identify in densely wooded areas throughout the eastern United States and in most of Canada.
This bird is often heard before it is seen, however, as it’s ‘drumming’ can be quite loud. The volume of Pileated Woodpecker drilling can be attributed to the fact that this is, indeed, a very massive woodpecker!
For birdwatchers or backyard wildlife enthusiasts, attracting Pileated Woodpeckers is a common topic, and there are some things that can be done to increase the chances of a Pileated Woodpecker showing up on your property to score a free meal or a rinse in your bird fountain.
Photo Credit: Andy on Flickr
Throughout the eastern United States and even into parts of the Pacific Northwest, the Pileated Woodpecker is a common sight. This striking bird is very large—arguably reaching ‘crow size’ territory—with many observers reporting sizes that might surprise you.
So, how big is a Pileated Woodpecker? In this article, we’ll be exploring the wide variety of Pileated Woodpecker sizes, starting from when this bird hatches to when it reaches full maturity.
Photo Credit: Andy on Flickr
Pileated woodpeckers are easily identifiable by it’s massive size, pinpointed head plumage and bold streaks of red, black, and white. You will often see them perched on the sides of dead or dying trees, and if you’re lucky, you might occasionally find one battering away at a section of wood, as woodpeckers are known to do.
Once you’ve seen one of these birds working its way through a tree, you might find yourself wondering, “What do Pileated Woodpeckers eat?”.
Photo Credit: Charles de Millie-Isles on Flickr
I have spent the last two months running experiments to figure out how to attract woodpeckers to feeders and thought some other folks would be interested in the results.
This was a massive case of making lemonade when life gives you lemons so if you find the article useful then it is a double bonus for me!
The general steps for getting woodpeckers to eat at your feeders are as follows:
Let’s look at each of these steps in a little more detail.
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The red headed woodpecker is one of my absolute favorite birds. I think I like them so much because they are the perfect combination of stunning beauty with a bad attitude that guys find irresistible.
Red headed woodpeckers are interesting in that they always attract tremendous attention from bird watchers but not much is actually known about them. I did a little research and came up with some interesting facts and observations about these beautiful birds.
