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.

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.

I had no idea about the different types of drumming and communication!

I learned a lot about woodpecker drumming and calls.  It's fascinating.

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!

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. :)

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.

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.

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!

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.