Woodpecker Nest Boxes

Woodpeckers are usually red, white, black and yellow in color. Their plumage can also be combination of orange, green, brown and golden color. Woodpeckers have very long tongue which is designed for capturing of prey that is hidden inside trees. Certain species have barbed tongue, they eat insects, insect larvae and eggs, tree sap, seed, nuts etc.

Woodpeckers have chisel-like bill that is used for drilling of the trees when woodpecker searches for food or when it prepares its nest during the mating season. A Woodpecker is able to peck 20 times per second, its estimated between 10,000 and 12,000 pecks per day! The woodpeckers brain is prevented from trauma thanks to special air pockets in the skull. Since woodpeckers do not have vocal cords, this activity also play important role in communication.

Feathers that look like bristles on the nostrils of woodpecker prevent inhalation of wood particles.Woodpeckers feet have 4 fingers, two facing forward and two backward. This arrangement ensures strong grip to the branches and provides stability. Woodpeckers also have a pair of centrally located tail feathers that provide stability and keep them in the upright position while standing on the trees. Woodpeckers also have unique flying pattern which is three wing flaps followed with gliding. 

Woodpeckers are monogamous (one pair mate for a lifetime). The female lays between 2 and 5 eggs and the Incubation period lasts 11 to 14 days. One month after hatching, young woodpeckers are ready to leave the nest. Depending on the species, woodpeckers can survive between 5 and 11 years in the wild.