The woodpecker has many outstanding features to aid in its survival.
Their strong, pointed beak acts as both a chisel and a crowbar to remove bark and find hiding insects. It has a very long tongue, that can be up to four inches in some species. The tongue hs 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.
There are over 180 species of woodpeckers that live thoughout the U.S. Enjoy birding with one of the woodpecker feeders listed below.
