Acorn woodpeckers are easy to identify. Many people describe them as clown-faced birds, with a red cap, black chin, and bright white eyes. You might hear their loud waka waka call before seeing them, although they do not try to hide. And where there’s one acorn woodpecker there are more, because they live in family groups called clans. Can

you guess what else you will always find around acorn woodpeckers? Why acorns, of course!

Acorn woodpeckers have evolved with oak trees over thousands of years and depend on acorns, the fruit of oaks, to survive. Although acorn woodpeckers eat insects and sip nectar, they rely on acorns in winter or during droughts, times when other food is scarce.

Hammer-Head Bird

Acorn woodpeckers have many specialized adaptations for their oak woodland lifestyle. They use their heads like hammers to drive their strong beaks into tree trunks and branches, excavating holes for nesting. They also pound out smaller holes for acorn storage. The head of the acorn woodpecker is built to bang on wood all day. Their tough skulls act like hard-hats, designed to protect their brains from shock. Their necks are rigid to stop their heads from twisting while pounding wood. And their beaks keep growing as they wear down. The acorn woodpeckers’ stiff tail feathers help them balance as they perch on trees every which way.

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