Woodpeckers have to be one of the coolest families of birds in the world!  There are nearly 200 species found throughout the world (with the exclusion of Australia, New Zealand, New Guinea and Madagascar).

 These unique birds use their stiff tails to prop up their bodies as they hitch up tree trunks and limbs. Once they hear or suspect that there might be a tasty snack inside the tree they get to work. With incredible force they hammer away with their wedge-shaped bills until they find what they are after. Specially adapted tongues actually wrap around behind their skull to protect their brain from impact. These long tongues also come in handy when it comes to extracting their prey from the tree. 

 Woodpeckers also use their powerful carpentry skills to declare their territories to rival individuals by "drumming" on prominent trees from inside their home range. These sounds can echo far and wide and let other birds know to stay away.

This mini-gallery shows off a few of the coolest species I have been lucky enough to observe.

 

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Cream-backed Woodpecker

Blond-crested Woodpecker

Powerful Woodpecker

Magellanic Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Three-toed Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Acorn Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Yellow-fronted Woodpecker

Chestnut-colored Woodpecker

Blond-crested Woodpecker

Yellow-vented Woodpecker

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Woodpeckers

Lewis's Woodpecker

Chestnut Piculet

Pileated Woodpecker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Cinnamon Woodpecker

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Golden-cheeked Woodpecker

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Grey-breasted Woodpecker

Grey-crowned Woodpecker

Yucatan Woodpecker

Golden Green Woodpecker

Blood-coloured Woodpecker

Chestnut Woodpecker

Ecuadorian Piculet

Golden-collared Woodpecker

Jamaican Woodpecker

Lineated Woodpecker

Magellanic Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Red-necked Woodpecker

Scarlet-backed Woodpecker

Waved Woodpecker

Rufous-winged Woodpecker

Waved Woodpecker

Ringed Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Acorn Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Andean Flicker

Woodpeckers

Crimson-crested Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Downy Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Golden-olive Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Hairy Woodpecker

Crimson-mantled Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Cream-colored Woodpecker

Cuban Green Woodpecker

Golden Olive Woodpecker

White Woodpecker

Yellow-throated Woodpecker

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker

Yellow-vented Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker


Woodpeckers

Lineated Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Pale-billed Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Pale-crested Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Pileated Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Scale-breasted Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

White-barred Piculet

Woodpeckers

White-fronted Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

White-headed Woodpecker

Woodpeckers

Williamson's Sapsucker

Woodpeckers

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

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