A woodpecker is a bird that pecks at tree bark with its strong, pointed beak to find insects living inside the wood. The bird's head moves so fast when it pecks that it becomes almost a blur, hammering away at speeds that would give any other animal a serious headache. Woodpeckers have special shock-absorbing skulls and thick neck muscles that protect their brains from all that pounding.

You can often hear a woodpecker before you see it: a rapid tap-tap-tap-tap echoing through the woods. They drill small holes in trees to reach beetle larvae, ants, and other insects hidden beneath the bark. Woodpeckers also excavate larger holes called cavities where they build their nests and raise their young. These abandoned nest holes later become homes for other birds and small animals that can't make their own.

Many woodpecker species have striking black-and-white patterns with bright red patches on their heads. In North America, you might spot a pileated woodpecker (a crow-sized bird with a dramatic red crest) or the smaller downy woodpecker visiting backyard trees. The loud drumming sound woodpeckers make isn't just for finding food: males drum on hollow trees to announce their territory and attract mates, turning dead wood into a natural percussion instrument.