I am not adept at "birding by ear." Thank heavens woodpeckers drum to let us know they are in the neighborhood.

The different tips to the tongue all well suited for the specific dietary needs was really interesting.

For me it's the ability to hammer away at wood and other objects without giving themselves concussions. Does the tongue wrapping around the skull help with that?

I have never heard before of being able to regrow a tongue tip!

The Zygodactyl woodpecker foot, as opposed to the Anisodactyl foot of most other species of birds, is an amazing adaptation for clinging to trees. Since woodpeckers do not perch so much as they cling, this arrangement of toes helps them move better up and down on the trunk of the tree. Other species of tree habitat birds tend to move side to side when perched on a tree limb so they have to grasp with a hallux opposed to three toes.

The stretchy tendon that holds the base of the tongue near the nostril. Wow. Just wow.

Definitely type of tongue! But also tail which help them balance on the tree to do the excavating!

My favorite adaptation is that they can peck so much but never hurt there small brain. These bird definitely don’t not have a small brain!

To be able to build a nest cavity into a tree without a second thought is amazing. That's a lot of woodworking! And they can grab a snack along the way. That's a strong bill and they can regrow the tip of their long tongue as well. They do own the wood. Ironic that the pileated like carpenter ants.