Woodpeckers that live alone are the territorial birds. They will vigorously defend their territory against intruders, including other woodpeckers of the same species. This is because they need a large area of forest in order to find enough food. Woodpeckers eat a variety of insects and other small animals that live in trees, and they need a large territory in order to find enough food to sustain themselves.
On the other hand, woodpecker species that live in pairs or family groups are the cooperative breeders. They share the responsibilities of raising young, with both parents (and sometimes other helpers) taking turns incubating the eggs and feeding the chicks. This allows them to be more successful in raising young, as they can pool their resources and efforts to provide the best possible care for their offspring.
Examples of cooperative breeding species include the acorn woodpecker and the red-cockaded woodpecker. Acorn woodpeckers live in family groups of up to 12 birds, while red-cockaded woodpeckers live in pairs or small groups. Both species rely on the help of other group members to raise their young, and they have evolved a variety of cooperative behaviors in order to do so.