Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are special birds that love to peck at wood. They use their strong beaks to drill into tree bark. They look for bugs hiding inside the wood. Woodpeckers live in forests all around the world. There are more than 200 kinds of woodpeckers.

How They Peck

A woodpecker can peck up to 20 times each second. Its skull is built to soak up the shock from all that pecking. Their long, sticky tongues help them reach bugs deep inside holes. Some woodpeckers also eat nuts, fruit, and tree sap.

Where They Live

Woodpeckers live on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. They make their homes inside tree trunks. The holes they make also become homes for other animals later. Woodpeckers have two toes pointing forward and two pointing back, which helps them climb trees.

Fun Facts

• A woodpecker's tongue can be longer than its head.
• Their hard pecking sounds can travel far through the forest.
• Baby woodpeckers hatch inside tree holes made by their parents.

Did You Know?

Woodpeckers have special feathers that cover their noses to keep wood chips out while they peck.