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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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
Mark shares that this is his first time encountering an elf owl and explains how these tiny, docile birds lead secluded lives, often nesting in saguaro cactus cavities made by woodpeckers.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
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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
Mark shares that this is his first time encountering an elf owl and explains how these tiny, docile birds lead secluded lives, often nesting in saguaro cactus cavities made by woodpeckers.
—Tiffany Acosta, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for woodpecker
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Cite this Entry
“Woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/woodpecker. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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