Why do Woodpeckers peck on wood?

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asked Dec 13, 2023 in Birds by TJcr8id (1,260 points)
Why do Woodpeckers peck on wood?

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answered Jul 10, 2024 by Babbacock (14,190 points)
The reason Woodpeckers peck on wood is to establish territory, find a mate, excavate a nesting hole, or find insects, and sometimes that wood is attached to a building.

The most common reason woodpeckers will use their beaks to create holes in trees is because the Woodpeckers are looking for food. Woodpeckers eat insect larvae that are found beneath the surface of tree bark.

Some Woodpeckers, like the yellow-bellied sapsucker, drill into trees to feed on sap, as well as any bugs caught in the tree sap.

In some cases, woodpecker activity may alert you to a larger problem.

If woodpeckers are starting to peck at your house, inspect your siding for insect damage.

It's likely that the woodpeckers are going after a tasty treat within the wood.

Woodpecker damage alone will not harm a tree enough to kill it.

However, the combination of a pest issue, plus the holes that allow other pests and diseases entry into the tree, can cause enough stress to significantly damage a tree.

Though a very rare solution, you may choose to remove the tree entirely.

Woodpeckers are part of the bird family Picidae, which also includes the piculets, wrynecks and sapsuckers.

Members of this family are found worldwide, except for Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Madagascar and the extreme polar regions.

A woodpecker's spiritual meaning can also indicate that your soul has extra protection.

Celtic traditions state that woodpeckers can communicate with spiritual worlds, bringing messages that grant wisdom to whoever is around them.

The meaning of woodpecker is strongly rooted in communication and opportunity.

When the woodpecker shows up in our lives, it's a good time to get clever about how we communicate our needs to reach our best advantage.

Woodpecker meaning is also about determination and being resourceful.

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