The Cornell Lab Bird Academy › Discussion Groups › The Wonderful World of Woodpeckers › The Life of Woodpeckers
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We have lots of Flickers that drum on the cottonwood trees and even the chimney. The downy like the cottonwood outside our bedroom window.
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I have a flicker that likes to drum on the metal flashing on my chimney. My partner thought that our furnace was malfunctioning! I was on a walking trip in England last week (the Cotswolds) and my sister and I both heard a woodpecker drum in a nearby treed area. Not sure which woodpecker it was, but we both immediately IDd it as a woodpecker drumming.
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In our condo complex, every year, at about this time (early to middle April), one species (Northern Flicker?) enjoys drumming where the stove vent exits the roof. Quite alarming at first, but now we view it as the first rites of spring!
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Love all the different drumming and songs
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We have quite a few woodpeckers in the provincial park where I live and when they are active, they are ALL active. Last week, there was a northern Flicker drumming away on a metal roof of a bird blind. Very insistant, impossible to miss!
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In Arizona, I had a Gila Woodpecker that took delight in drumming on my metal chimney. It would drum in the morning so you would have to wake up. The first time I heard it, I was quite surprised.
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I was surprised when I listened for the first time the sound of the Middle-spotted Woodpecker, which sounded like a suffering pig.
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Thanks for that insight. Here is a link to a recording of a Middle Spotted Woodpecker in Macaulay Library.
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/203695081
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It amazes me how loud the downy can drum! At times I hear a loud sound and expect a bigger woodpecker, but sure enough it's one of these little guys.
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I have had the same experience. Thought it was as much larger bird. Surprise, Surprise!
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I totally agree Kay. Just heard the little guy drumming away tonight! Its so much more interesting after you learn what they're up to.
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One I went on vacation to Florida and I saw a woodpecker drumming on a coconut! I assumed he was trying to get to the coconut milk.
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I once watched a downy or hairy woodpecker drumming on a power line box. I thought it was very dumb and confused. Now I know that it was a very deliberate choice.
I've heard woodpeckers drumming all over my neighborhood where I've seen up to 5 species. I find it almost impossible to know where the drumming is coming from and rarely spot the bird doing the drumming. I enjoy hearing their back-and-forth communication. -
Years ago we were in Yosemite National Park and heard the drumming of a woodpecker, within a minute my group heard similar drumming coming from three different directions and it was not an echo we were hearing. The day after at the Nature Conservancy location near El Portal we heard and saw Acorn Woodpecker's drumming on metal and again some other drumming coming from different directions. The metal sound was incredible, it carried farther than the others drumming.
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I had no idea about the different types of drumming and communication!
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I learned a lot about woodpecker drumming and calls. It's fascinating.
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Yes, I agree that drumming can be annoying when it's on metal. A red-shafted flicker on my street chose to drum on a metal chimney spark arrester. Now that really woke up the household there, and I could easily hear it several houses away. Alas for those flicker competitors that drummed only on wood!
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I had no idea that the drumming was not associated with searching (drilling) for food. I always thought that a woodpecker drumming on metal was a bit "off" and perhaps not too sharp! Guess I'm the one who is not too sharp! Sorry, woodpeckers. :)
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I felt exactly the same.
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@Marta LOL, I am guilty of that as well.
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I commented before about how drumming sounds help me locate a woodpecker. I neglected to mention how annoying it can be when the woodpecker chooses to drum (and make holes) on my house siding or uses the metal exhaust pipe on my roof early in the morning.
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A pair of Pileated Woodpeckers have been observed in the woods of the Blue Ridge Mountains where I reside. They have been around for many years. The calling and drumming are a welcome sign of their presence. There are five other species of woodpeckers also observed in this area. I think that all of the drumming and calling of these various species is a positive sign of the health of the forest. One hundred years ago the trees were clear cut logged. The succession forest now is mature enough to supply woodpeckers with the right type of wood for drumming behavior.
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Walking my dog the other day I heard a woodpecker "conversation". One was drumming in a tree across the street, and the other, nearer to me, was drumming on a medal attachment on part of a chimney. It was definitely a territorial display, and the woodpecker drumming medal was making the bigger ruckus. Very interesting!
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I saw drumming on metal pole in uttarakhand. At that time I thought it's just resting and confused. However for loud noise they do it. But then the flameback many times come on windows of glass pane too. That creates not much noise and what is purpose of doing that? That seems a bit confusing to me.
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It might be looking at its reflection, thinking that it's another woodpecker. Sometimes birds peck at their reflections trying to drive the other bird they see away.
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