Who’s Kenn? Merely put, Kenn is a nationwide treasure. A famend birder, creator, and conservationist, Kenn Kaufman has spent his life devoted to observing birds, studying about birds, writing about birds, and sharing the world of birds with others. With all that birdy information in his mind, he additionally acts as the sector editor for Audubon journal. So, each time now we have a fowl query stumping us across the workplace, we simply ask Kenn. And now you may, too! When you have a fowl or birding query you’d like Kenn to reply, depart them on Fb or ship us an e mail. Perhaps subsequent month you’ll get the type of thorough, considerate, and even humorous response from Kenn we’ve grown so keen on through the years. —The Editors
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Query: Is it attainable to establish any woodpecker species by their drumming alone?
Woodpeckers aren’t the one birds that peck on wooden. Nuthatches, chickadees, and others additionally faucet on trunks and limbs to dig out hiding bugs or to excavate or enlarge holes they may use for his or her nests. So a random tapping within the bushes gained’t be identifiable. However after we hear a speedy drumroll echoing via the woods, we will make certain that’s a woodpecker.
The woodpecker chooses a floor that can produce a loud sound, reminiscent of a tough lifeless department or perhaps a steel pipe. Its drumming just isn’t for bug-hunting or nest-making, which might require slower, extra deliberate strikes. As an alternative, it’s a type of communication, functioning just like the music of a songbird: asserting a declare to a territory, attracting a mate, or sustaining contact between members of a pair. A number of species of woodpeckers might share the identical forest, in order that they have to have the ability to acknowledge drums of their very own type—which suggests we will study to acknowledge them, too.
Take Furry Woodpeckers and Downy Woodpeckers, that are widespread in North America and sometimes discovered collectively. Men and women of every have the identical drumming patterns, however the two species differ. The Furry’s drum is a rapid-fire burst of about 26 beats in a single emphatic second—so speedy that the strikes appear to run collectively in an indignant buzz. The Downy’s is usually shorter than one second and far slower, with about 12 to 17 beats, giving it a gentler sound. With follow, we will distinguish the distinction between these and different species.
The a lot bigger Pileated Woodpecker has a gradual drumming sample of about 15 beats per second, just like the Downy’s, however louder and normally longer than one second. Usually it quickens and will get somewhat softer on the finish, giving the distinct impression of trailing off. This identical impact of fading on the finish is heard within the drumming of American Three-toed Woodpecker and Black-backed Woodpecker, unusual species of northern and montane forests.
Sapsuckers have essentially the most distinctive drumming of all, a staccato sample with a speedy burst adopted by irregular single or double knocks. For the Yellow-bellied, Purple-naped, and Purple-breasted Sapsuckers, all of that are shut kin, we would write the sound as TRRRRRR, TR TR TR, T-T, TT, T-T. For Williamson’s Sapsucker, the knocks after the preliminary drumroll additionally encompass a number of speedy strikes, extra broadly spaced as they go alongside: TRRRRRR, TRRR TRRR TRRR, TRR, TRR, TR.
Studying to establish drum patterns can take time, as a result of we regularly hear these sounds with out seeing the fowl.
Some species alternate drumming with vocal sounds. The Purple-bellied Woodpecker of jap North America has a comparatively gradual drum just like the Downy, with about 13 to 17 beats in lower than one second. In between drumrolls, it usually provides loud, distinctive calls. Its southwestern kin, Golden-fronted Woodpecker and Gila Woodpecker, have the identical conduct. So does the Northern Flicker. The glint’s drum is barely reasonably quick nevertheless it’s usually comparatively lengthy, lasting virtually two seconds, with as much as 30 beats. Between drumrolls, sparkles usually give a loud, yammering “music,” serving the identical territorial and mate-attracting functions because the drumming.
For woodpeckers that don’t combine calls with their drumming, studying to establish drum patterns can take time, as a result of we regularly hear these sounds within the woods with out seeing the fowl that’s making them. To review at dwelling, search for recordings on-line. Two wonderful, dependable sources are the Macaulay Library at Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and the impartial web site Xeno-canto. Search on a species identify and also you’ll discover dozens, and even lots of, of excellent recordings. Telling one head-banging fowl from one other is a enjoyable ID problem that can add an entire different dimension to your time within the woods.
This story initially ran within the Spring 2026 concern. To obtain our print journal, turn out to be a member by making a donation today.
