woodpecker

noun

wood·​peck·​er ˈwu̇d-ˌpe-kər 

: 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

Illustration of woodpecker

Examples of woodpecker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While a few species, such as American crows, blue jays, and most woodpeckers will peck through a light skim of ice, other birds may not be able to do so. —Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 4 Dec. 2025

Peanuts—shelled or unshelled—are a favorite treat of bluejays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and several other species. —Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025

The state will have to acquire a healthy population of the woodpecker from other states, the wildlife resource agency said. —Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025

Carl, who spent much of the day photographing bark and woodpeckers, was savoring his 12th night camping this season, a personal best. —Devon O’Neil, Outside, 15 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing woodpecker

• acorn woodpecker
• downy woodpecker
• hairy woodpecker
• ivory-billed woodpecker
• pileated woodpecker
• red-bellied woodpecker
• red-cockaded woodpecker

Rhymes for woodpecker

• exchequer
• checker
• chequer
• decker
• wrecker

Kids Definition

woodpecker

noun

wood·​peck·​er -ˌpek-ər 

: any of numerous brightly marked birds with strong claws and stiff tail feathers used in climbing or resting on tree trunks, a long flexible tongue, and a very hard bill used to drill into trees to get insects for food and to dig out holes for nesting