# Pied Woodpeckers And Allies (*melanerpini*) Pied woodpeckers are known for their striking black and white feathers! They use their strong beaks to tap on trees and find tasty insects to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger - **Habitat:** Pied woodpeckers live in forests, especially in areas with plenty of trees. - **Also known as:** Black-and-white Woodpecker, Pied Woodpecker ![Pied Woodpeckers And Allies](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Gr%C3%BCnspecht_Picus_viridis.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sven Teschke , Büdingen, CC BY-SA 2.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gr%C3%BCnspecht_Picus_viridis.jpg) ## Appearance The Pied Woodpeckers And Allies typically have striking black and white plumage, often accented with bright red or yellow patches on their head or belly. They possess strong, chisel-like bills and stiff tail feathers that act as a prop against tree trunks, distinguishing them. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Piciformes - **Family:** Picidae - **Genus:** Dendrocopos ## Interesting facts - Some woodpeckers store hundreds of acorns in tree holes for winter snacks. - Their tongues are so long they sometimes wrap around their skull! - They use their stiff tail feathers like a third leg for balance on trees. - Woodpeckers can peck up to 20 times per second when drilling into wood! ## Special abilities - **Shock Absorbing Skull:** Pied Woodpeckers And Allies have a specialized skull structure that protects their brain from the impact of powerful pecking. - **Gripping Toes:** Pied Woodpeckers And Allies have zygodactyl feet that help them cling firmly to tree trunks while climbing and drilling. - **Sticky Tongue:** Pied Woodpeckers And Allies can extend a long, barbed tongue to extract hidden insects from deep within tree crevices. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 18-30 cm - **Wingspan:** 32-50 cm - **Weight:** 0.05-0.15 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-7 - **Incubation:** 11-14 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding Mostly insects found in wood, but they also enjoy fruits, nuts, and tree sap from plants. - **Primary Foods:** Beetles, Ants, Larvae, Sap, Berries, Acorns - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Mountain Pine Beetle (*Dendroctonus ponderosae*) — Helps control forest pest populations. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — A common aerial predator. - **Depends on:** [Eastern Gray Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-gray-squirrel) (*Sciurus carolinensis*) — May raid acorn caches or use tree cavities. - **Shelter:** [Eastern Bluebird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-bluebird) (*Sialia sialis*) — Uses old woodpecker cavities for nests. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Arboreal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/arboreal): Arboreal animals live primarily in trees, utilizing them for shelter, food, and protection from predators. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 0/5 · No known danger No special safety notes yet. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Pied Woodpeckers And Allies? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Pied Woodpeckers And Allies? 18-30 cm ### What is Pied Woodpeckers And Allies's wingspan? 32-50 cm ### How much does Pied Woodpeckers And Allies weigh? 0.05-0.15 kg ### How long does Pied Woodpeckers And Allies live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Pied Woodpeckers And Allies move? 50 km/h ### What does Pied Woodpeckers And Allies eat? Mostly insects found in wood, but they also enjoy fruits, nuts, and tree sap from plants. ### Where is Pied Woodpeckers And Allies usually found? Pied woodpeckers live in forests, especially in areas with plenty of trees. ## Where to spot - [Wolf Trails Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/wolf-trails-park) — Virginia, US · Park ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Pied Woodpeckers And Allies: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/pied-woodpeckers-and-allies)