Why do woodpeckers peck wood?
For grown-ups: the science
Woodpeckers peck wood to find insects, make nest holes, and send loud messages to other woodpeckers.
Woodpeckers use pecking for foraging, excavating nest and roost cavities, and drumming communication. Their skulls, neck muscles, and beaks are adapted to handle repeated impacts, while their tongues can be long and sticky for collecting insects.
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Transcript
Tap, tap, tap! A woodpecker is on a tree trunk. Why is it pecking the wood?
Some woodpeckers peck to find insects hiding under bark. Their long, sticky tongues help pull the insects out.
They also peck holes to make safe nests inside tree trunks. The holes give their eggs and babies a sheltered home.
Woodpeckers drum on wood to tell other woodpeckers, “This tree is mine!” The loud tapping can travel far through the forest.
So woodpeckers peck for food, homes, and messages. Their strong beaks are built for all that tapping!