woodpecker

noun

wood·​peck·​er ˈwu̇d-ˌpe-kər How to pronounce woodpecker (audio)
: 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

Illustration of woodpecker

Examples of woodpecker in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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With its canyons, mountains and desert landscapes, the national monument serves as a habitat for a variety of animals, including desert bighorn sheep, Gila woodpeckers and Agassiz’s desert tortoises. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Jan. 2025 Elf owls typically nest in cavities, such as old woodpecker tree holes, that provide relief from heat and protection from rain and predators. Leslie Katz, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 Peanuts—shelled or unshelled—are a favorite treat of bluejays, woodpeckers, chickadees, and several other species. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Dec. 2024 Fitting that this show should wrap in northeast Florida, where live oak trees, pine, Sabal palm, saw palmetto, alligators, woodpeckers, and manatee connect the exhibition’s debut site in the North Carolina piedmont with its second stop, Miami, gateway to the Caribbean. Chadd Scott, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for woodpecker 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of woodpecker was circa 1530

Dictionary Entries Near woodpecker

Cite this Entry

“Woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woodpecker. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

woodpecker

noun
wood·​peck·​er -ˌpek-ər How to pronounce woodpecker (audio)
: 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

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