Woodpeckers are an iconic species in many ecosystems. They are part of a very biodiverse family (Picidae), with 218 species that can be found practically throughout the planet, with the exception of the poles, Australia and Madagascar.
These have vibrant hues depending on the species, ranging from orange, purple or green, to pink, yellow and red plumage. Carpenters can have sizes of only 20 cm or reach up to 60 centimeters. However, many know their iconic sound when they collide with wood, but do you know why they do it?
Why do they chip wood?
Each species of carpenters chops wood for different reasons; Some do it to dig their nests, others to feed, looking for insects or sap from the tree or they can even do it to have a storage place for their food. These birds usually choose to have them weakened by fungal decomposition, so they can break them more easily.
Some species use drumming, that is, a rapid pecking in which their beak hits the tree several times per second. They do this on resonant surfaces with the function of attracting potential mates, as well as defending their territory.
Acorn Woodpeckers open holes in wood small enough to store food. This way they can save acorns for times of scarcity.
Why can they hit themselves in the head without hurting themselves?
Several factors help prevent these birds from getting injured, some of these are; their small brain, a short contact time with the wood in each peck they make and the ability of their head to cushion the blows.
Woodpeckers have a very small brain, weighing just 2 grams, which in itself already reduces the chances of injury. These are also protected by minimal contact time between their beak and the tree. Each time they peck, contact with the tree lasts only between 0.0005 and 0.001 seconds.
In addition, its head also seems to be designed to protect them. The hyoid apparatus, a structure made of bone and muscle that surrounds the skull of woodpeckers, is thought to help protect their brain. This is also protected because the force received from the peck is distributed throughout the skull and sent to a resistant bone.
Desert Woodpecker (Melanerpes uropygialis)
This species is distributed in southern Arizona and northeastern Mexico. Their habitat is determined by the availability of sites to make their nests. They usually settle in giant cacti in the desert, poplar forests, groves near rivers, dry tropical forests and even city suburbs. These feed on a variety of insects and fruits, nectar, seeds, worms, among others.
The desert woodpecker is an important architect of its habitats since the holes it makes in trees and cacti are used by other birds such as owls, flytraps and swifts for nesting. Its population is currently stable and due to its distribution region, it is not expected to significantly affect its vulnerability.
Elegant Woodpecker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
This species is distributed in a wide area of the western United States and a part of northeastern Mexico, although in winter they can migrate to the south and central east of Mexico. These inhabit coniferous and aspen forests where they are usually silent except in spring when their distinctive drumming and mating calls can be heard.
The elegant woodpecker feeds on insects, sap and fruits. The female and the male are so different that when they were discovered, they were classified as if they were two different species. If it does not stop, its range is expected to be affected.
Importance of woodpeckers
These birds, in addition to the great spectacle of colors and sound that they give us, have a role in maintaining the balance of their bodies. These help disperse tree seeds, keep pest populations at bay, and help provide shelter for mammals, reptiles, and other birds with the holes they make in the trees.
References
Desert woodpecker. (sf). Audubon.
Elegant carpenter. (sf). Audubon.
The carpenter of the forests. (2016). CONAFOR.