Woodpeckers build the most elaborate acorn granaries – you can't miss it!

2/8/2021

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Nature Story: Woodpeckers build the most elaborate acorn granaries – you can't miss it!

Most woodpecker species peck into wood in search of food or for nest building. The acorn woodpecker does it to create amazing acorn warehouses.

Woodpeckers drill into tree trunks so aggressively that any other animal attempting the same feat would end up with a serious concussion. But not these birds! They possess some absolutely unbelievable building skills.

Let's discover more about acorn woodpeckers as a species and take a look at their stunning granaries, which can without doubt be considered works of art.

#1 Habitat

Acorn woodpeckers can be found in the South West of the United States. Their preferred habitat are the forest dense areas of Oregon, California.

#2 Food

This woodpecker uses the autumn months to gather and hoard its favorite food, the acorn. These birds use their beaks to carve out small acorn storehouses in tree trunks, telephone poles or wood buildings.

#3 Safety in Numbers

Despite their impressive beaks, these woodpeckers can only drill shallow holes which leave their food exposed and ripe for stealing. To protect these supplies, they band together in communities to guard the trees from potential thieves.

#4 Warehouse Maintenance

These birds are surprisingly careful with their supply. They will move acorns around to more fitting holes as they dry out and change size. They do this to make sure to minimize waste as shrivelled acorns can fall out of their assigned holes.

#5 It looks like an incredibly nutritious acorn!

#6 This bird has LOOOOTS of acorns, all carefully stored

Do you like these pictures? Do you know any other interesting facts about animals who build stuff?

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

25 Comments

Jo Weston

Smart birds. Maybe some of our Pollies could learn from them.

Léger Cadorette

What a wonderful crafty bird with magnificent colored feathers‼️

Donna Garza

And I thought woodpeckers made holes in the trees to eat insects. 🤔

Brendan Brannigan

James Williams, according to the Audubon Society they do eat the acorns as well as insects and larvae. Approximately 50% of their winter diet is acorns.

lmoores

Oregon and California are not part of the south west.

Suzi

Darla Deats, we just recently watched that documentary. Very interesting and yes, poor bird!

Darla Deats

I saw a documentary about this in Big Bend National Park in Texas. A rogue bear came along and are many of the acorns. Poor bird was helpless to defend his cache!!😊

tbear

James Williams, thank you! Another fact to remember! I'll have to ask a friend of mine who is really into birds, if she knew that! And to think people think birds are dumb! 😊👍

Jerry Edwards

purplehanky, Eugene is clearly talking about Oregon the State. In the NORTH West.

lmoores

Oregon is in the north west not the south west!! Although Southern California might be considered south west, Northern California is definitely not considered south west!! Interesting story regarding the woodpecker though 🐦.