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

However, since her Facebook post, other neighbors have come forward, sharing their stories of damage, including one man’s truck window that got a giant crack from the woodpecker while the driver was inside. —Rachel McRady, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025

From bluebirds to woodpeckers to hummingbirds, these avian beauties add music and movement to yards and gardens all throughout the South. —Abby Fribush, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025

Last year, a family checked their doorbell camera to see an unexpected guest—a rare glimpse of a young woodpecker. —Justin Gest, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025

His taxidermy even included the odd woodpecker, parrot, and penguin. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 10 Apr. 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