Main Entry: wood·peck·er

Pronunciation: \ˈwu̇d-ˌpe-kər\

Function: noun

Date: circa 1530

: any of numerous birds (family Picidae) with zygodactyl feet, stiff spiny tail feathers used in climbing or resting on tree trunks, a usually extensible tongue, a very hard bill used to drill the bark or wood of trees for insect food or to excavate nesting cavities, and generally showy parti-colored plumage

[woodpecker illustration]