Illustration of woodpecker
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
Examples of woodpecker in a Sentence
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One of the most popular activities has been the annual Hoot, Howl and Prowl Halloween event where people dress in costumes, many as animals, and share stories about rattlesnakes and woodpeckers at the reserve on the Saturday evening before Halloween.
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Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
In my experience, brute-force methods like the woodpecker strategy are inefficient and increase churn; instead, consider a more strategic approach.
—Vijay Menon, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
The stillness of deep winter is broken only by the drumming of a woodpecker in the tree canopy.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 25 Feb. 2025
By foraging in these areas, the woodpeckers control insect populations and contribute to the balance of the ecosystem.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woodpecker
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Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Apr. 2025
In my experience, brute-force methods like the woodpecker strategy are inefficient and increase churn; instead, consider a more strategic approach.
—Vijay Menon, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025
The stillness of deep winter is broken only by the drumming of a woodpecker in the tree canopy.
—Brian Mann, NPR, 25 Feb. 2025
By foraging in these areas, the woodpeckers control insect populations and contribute to the balance of the ecosystem.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for woodpecker
Cite this Entry
“Woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woodpecker. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
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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
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