What Kind of Insects Do Woodpeckers Eat?

Woodpeckers are so named because they peck away at the trunks of many trees, creating a loud tapping noise that echoes through forests. The main reason they hammer away at tree trunks is to find insects and other food behind the bark. All 180 plus species of woodpeckers belong to the family Picidae and they can be found all over the world.

  1. Primary Diet

    • Insects make up the majority of a woodpecker's diet. Ants are particularly preferred by woodpeckers in general, but they also enjoy critters like caterpillars, wood-boring insects, grubs, spiders and beetles. The Pileated woodpecker especially favors carpenter ants, but will feed on different bugs when needed. Woodpeckers will find most of the insects that they need under the bark of the trees in their territory.

    Secondary Foods

    • Although insects are the primary food source of woodpeckers, they will also find sustenance in other ways. When their insect food supply is depleted, woodpeckers will attain their nutritional needs from things like the sap of a tree, nuts, seeds, berries and other fruit.

    Eating Habits

    • Woodpeckers tend to search for food and stick to same territory year after year. As the food supply changes throughout the different seasons, their diet will change slightly according to what food source is most plentiful at the time. Using their pecking skills and their strong beaks, they can tunnel deep into tree trunks in an attempt to acquire food. They have especially long tongues with a sticky substance to help them gather as many insects as possible. Unlike most birds, woodpeckers have zygodactal feet, meaning they have two forward facing toes and two backward facing toes. This is to assist them in clinging on to the sides of tree trunks while they excavate for insects or sap.

    Stats

    • The largest woodpeckers measure in at 21 inches long and weigh up to 1.25 lbs. The smallest woodpeckers are about 6 inches long. Their average lifespan is between four to 11 years. They usually have a clutch size of about four eggs that hatch after about a two week incubation period. They become independent approximately 25 to 30 days later.

    Interesting Facts

    • Woodpeckers are motivated to drum on tree trunks for reasons other than hunger. The noise also serves the purpose of marking the boundaries of their territory. They tap on trees to communicate with other woodpeckers as well. Additionally, the pecking sound is used in courtship to attract mates. There are special, stiff feathers over the nostrils of a woodpecker to stop them from inhaling bits of wood as they hammer away. Defenders of Wildlife states that woodpeckers drum on tree trunks approximately 8,000 to 12,000 times per day.