Click to Enlarge Listen to Captions (680 KB) Hairy woodpeckers use their tough beaks to find insects hiding in tree bark. They are similar to downy woodpeckers, which have a smaller beak and body. Males of both species have a red patch on the back of their head, but females do not. Red-headed woodpeckers (top right) are easy to identify—their whole head is red. Most other Missouri woodpeckers have red on just part of their head. Red-bellied woodpeckers (middle left) have a patch of red on their belly. Turn the page to see the rest of the bird. The pileated woodpecker (middle right) was the model for the cartoon character Woody Woodpecker and his obnoxious call. If you have never heard one, hang out in a forest next to a large snag or check out this website: www3.nationalgeographic.com/animals/ birds/pileated-woodpecker.html Yellow-bellied sapsuckers (bottom left), like this juvenile, drill small holes in trees. They drink the tree’s sap and catch insects that are attracted to the sweet liquid. Northern flickers (bottom right) eat fruit, nuts and insects. They often hop on the ground, looking for ants—their favorite food.   Carpenter of the Forest by Liz Forbes, illustrations by Dave Besenger, photos by Jim Rathert Listen to "Carpenter of the Forest" (1.4 MB) Woodpeckers have some amazing features for surviving in the forest. Keen eyesight helps them find ants, beetles and other insects. They grasp the bark of tree trunks with sharp claws using stiff tail feathers as a prop. Unlike most birds, they have two toes on both the front and back of their feet for a tighter grip. Cocking their heads, they listen closely for sounds of insects beneath the bark. Powerful neck muscles drive their chisel-like beaks into trees where their long tongues probe for insects. In Missouri, you can spot many different species of woodpeckers—from the large, loud, red-topped pileated woodpecker (more than 16 inches tall) to the petite downy woodpecker (about 6 inches tall). Winter is a good time to watch woodpeckers at feeders. Suet feeders and sunflower seeds attract yellow-bellied sapsuckers, as well as downy, hairy and red-bellied woodpeckers. In the summer you might see northern flickers and red-headed woodpeckers at feeders or tap, tap, tapping into trees looking for insects. Knock! Knock! Who’s There? Next time you go outside, listen for the knocking or drumming sounds of a woodpecker. The rhythm of the knocking tells you what the woodpecker is doing. Tap…tap-tap…tap-tap-tap Quiet, irregular drumming similar to Morse code means the woodpecker is searching for insects to eat. Thump-thump-thump-thump-thump Fast drumming like a drum roll tells you the woodpecker is establishing his territory. BAM…BAM…BAM…BAM…BAM Slow, steady knocking like hammering a nail means the woodpecker is building a cavity for nesting. An Inside Look Listen to "An Inside Look " (1.4 MB) Click to enlarge Tongue Tactics Woodpeckers use their long, barbed tongues to probe for insects in deep holes. The tongue is so long that it is anchored in the right nostril, wraps around the back of the skull and out the mouth. Woodpeckers eat insects such as carpenter ants, termites and beetles. They also eat nuts, fruits and berries. Eye Bird eyes are huge. They can see great detail even from a distance. Beak Beaks are bone covered by keratin. Worn by use, the beak grows throughout life. Leg Most of a bird’s leg is hidden under feathers. The only parts in view are usually the ankle, foot and toes. Gizzard Part of the stomach, the gizzard uses grit to grind up food. It makes up for a lack of teeth. Air sacs Unique to birds, air sacs help the lungs and maintain body temperature. Wing Modified arm bones, feathers and powerful muscles give the power of flight. Tail Woodpeckers use their tails as a prop to keep them steady as they drum on trees. Bird bone Hollow bones make flight much easier for birds. Internal struts add strength. Mammals, like you, have bones that are more heavy and solid. Feather Features Click to enlarge Feathers are unique to birds. Fluffy down feathers keep woodpeckers warm while outer contour feathers keep them dry. Flight feathers on the wings are strong and flexible and allow birds to fly. Other feathers, known as filoplumes, are used mainly for courtship and display. Feathers are made up of tiny barbs that hook together to form a mesh. Birds repair their feathers by preening or straightening the barbs with their bills. Tiny feathers cover the nostrils of woodpeckers to keep out pieces of wood as they drill. Note the saw dust on this downy woodpecker’s beak.