I never liked Woody Woodpecker. His obnoxious laugh and demented antics were, to say the least, annoying. When some folks think of woodpeckers, this is what comes to mind and that's unfortunate. While I always thought woodpeckers were pretty interesting, it wasn't until I did a little more probing into this group, which also includes flickers and sapsuckers, that I discovered that they are really fascinating birds.
Some flickers feed on ground insects, especially ants.
The sapsuckers, as the name suggests, feed extensively on tree sap as well as insects. Still others feed on berries, fruits, nuts and certain seeds. Their most distinguishing feature is their expertise in pecking wood to find food and to excavate nesting cavities. To this endeavor, their bills are shaped like pick axes and the tips are like chisels. Northern flickers like to feed on ground insects, especially ants, which it eats more than any other North American bird.