Things You'll Need
- Binoculars
Instructions
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1
Note the colors. The most common woodpecker is the Downy variety, which has black and white feathers. The Ladder-backed woodpecker is one of a few woodpeckers with a series of stripes down the back to the base of the tail. Male woodpeckers have red markings on the back part of the head, which attract female woodpeckers.
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2
Examine the eyes and face of a woodpecker to determine gender. Female woodpeckers have a white stripe around both eyes, which contrasts with the all-black face of a male woodpecker.
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3
Listen for the sound of rapid drilling. Woodpeckers drive their beaks into living trees to draw out sap and worms, which causes a loud and distinctive knocking sound.
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4
Assess the age of a woodpecker by looking at the elevation of its nest. Young woodpeckers start nests in treetops, gradually moving down to lower branches as they age.
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5
Look fo clusters of disparate birds. Woodpeckers mix with a variety of small birds to find new food sources during fall and winter.
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6
Compare brood size. Female woodpeckers produce up to eight eggs with each brood, and reproduce more than once annually.
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