acorn woodpecker
noun
: a woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) found from the U.S. Pacific coast south to Colombia that stores acorns in small holes which it digs especially in the bark of trees
Examples of acorn woodpecker in a Sentence
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Why are acorn woodpeckers the hippies of the bird world?
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Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
On an average morning, Susan Glass can sit on the patio at her condominium complex in Saratoga, Calif., and identify as many as 15 different bird species by ear: a steller’s jay, an acorn woodpecker, an oak titmouse.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Paul Bannick, who has written two books about woodpeckers, said the acorn woodpecker, a species common on the West Coast, often amasses thousands of the nuts for winter.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
On one April day, a female acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes fomicivorus) was observed drilling an astounding 286 holes into the trunk of a pine tree over the course of nine hours and 27 minutes.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
About the only bird with red around here is the acorn woodpecker, but that’s just a small cap on top of their heads.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2020
But one tenacious and outspoken bird — the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) — presents a unique problem.
—Sara Cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, 17 July 2019
They are known as granary trees and represent a unique characteristic of acorn woodpeckers.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2019
Woodpeckers, especially acorn woodpeckers, are highly social birds that often work together for a common good.
—Ernie Cowan Outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 Apr. 2018
Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
On an average morning, Susan Glass can sit on the patio at her condominium complex in Saratoga, Calif., and identify as many as 15 different bird species by ear: a steller’s jay, an acorn woodpecker, an oak titmouse.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Paul Bannick, who has written two books about woodpeckers, said the acorn woodpecker, a species common on the West Coast, often amasses thousands of the nuts for winter.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
On one April day, a female acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes fomicivorus) was observed drilling an astounding 286 holes into the trunk of a pine tree over the course of nine hours and 27 minutes.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
About the only bird with red around here is the acorn woodpecker, but that’s just a small cap on top of their heads.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2020
But one tenacious and outspoken bird — the acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) — presents a unique problem.
—Sara Cardine, La Cañada Valley Sun, 17 July 2019
They are known as granary trees and represent a unique characteristic of acorn woodpeckers.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2019
Woodpeckers, especially acorn woodpeckers, are highly social birds that often work together for a common good.
—Ernie Cowan Outdoors, sandiegouniontribune.com, 7 Apr. 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'acorn woodpecker.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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“Acorn woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acorn%20woodpecker. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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