Hairy Woodpecker

Beak

The beaks of these woodpeckers are rather long, (almost the width of the head), black, pointed, and made for chipping away tree bark in order to find insects. Woodpeckers have tremendous neck muscles and special brain padding to avoid concussions while happily drumming away. It is with this ability that woodpeckers create hole cavities in trees to make nests and raise their young. In the spring, they can be heard hammering on a dead branch, metal chimney or eave of the house to claim territory and attract a mate.

Appearance

This woodpecker is about the size of a robin, black and white with the males having red colour showing at the back or the head.

Food

Away from feeders, woodpeckers are made to take care of insects that attack trees and will use dead trees to make their nests. At feeders though, they love suet and peanuts and will also enjoy black oil seeds in a hanging feeder. Remember that since these birds are climbers, they will not be comfortable feeding on the ground, but will instead need something they can cling to as they hammer away in a vertical position.

Habitat

As with downy woodpeckers, these birds like larger older trees and forests. However, hairy woodpeckers can be found in evergreen forests of spruce, hemlock, pine and larch just as easily as in hardwood forests. These birds are relatively tame and can sometimes be approached close enough to see their amazing black and white markings.