Bird of the Week 1: Red-bellied Woodpecker

If you've ever taken a walk in the woods, chances are that you've heard woodpeckers doing what they do best: jackhammering away at trees. Woodpeckers rely on trees of their food and shelter. These birds generally feed on tree-living or wood-boring insects, but some species are known to feed on fruits, nuts, and seeds. The sapsucker species feed on tree sap and insects!

Now we know how important trees are to woodpeckers, let's talk about how woodpeckers are able to do what they do. What makes the woodpecker so unique in its function? The secret is behind its skull!

Watch as our staff takes us on a virtual tour through the wonderfully weird anatomy behind a red-bellied woodpecker's skull. Then, read about the woodpeckers of NJ and use your knowledge from both the video and reading to complete the worksheets. 

Download the worksheet PDF here.

This resource was created by Von Scully, Joanne Vogel, and Kate Reilly.