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There are nearly 200 different species of woodpeckers—19 call North America home.
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The ivory-billed woodpecker was long thought to be extinct until a sighting in 2004. Since then, thousands of enthusiasts have flocked to Big Woods, Arkansas, in search of the bird and the $50,000 reward for its find. Join the hunt and you may also spot elvis or Bigfoot.
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The original voice of Woody Woodpecker was provided by Mel Blanc who also recorded the voices of Bugs Bunny, Yosemite Sam, Porky Pig and countless other cartoon characters you watched on saturday mornings growing up. Ha-ha-ha-haha!
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A woodpecker can peck up to 20 times per second.
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Woodpeckers use the drumming sound of their pecking to attract mates and establish territory. Many species are known to hammer on utility poles, metal downspouts and even brick chimneys. Ouch!
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Woodpeckers have small brains wedged tightly into reinforced skulls to reduce shock and avoid concussions.
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Used to pluck insects from the holes it bores, a woodpecker’s tongue can be up to four inches long—too large to fit inside its mouth. Instead, the tongue is stored in a special chamber that wraps around the inside of the bird’s skull.
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The late ‘70s punk rock revival of the mohawk hairstyle is often attributed to Robert Deniro’s 1976 role in Taxi Driver. Who’s going to tell Glen Plake he’s been sporting a woodpecker?
This article first appeared in the Spring 2011 issue of Canoeroots Magazine.
