woodpecker
UK: ˈwʊdˌpɛkə | US: ˈwʊdˌpɛkər
n. a bird with a strong beak that drills into tree bark to find insects
n. any bird of the family Picidae, characterized by pecking behavior
The word "woodpecker" is a transparent compound in English, combining "wood" (from Old English wudu, meaning "forest" or "tree material") and "peck" (from Middle English pekken, imitative of the bird's striking motion). The suffix "-er" denotes an agent, forming a noun for a creature that performs the action. The term reflects the bird's defining behavior—pecking wood to forage.
A woodpecker drummed loudly on the oak tree outside my window.
The red-headed woodpecker is a common sight in North American forests.
Woodpeckers use their stiff tail feathers for balance while pecking.
The sound of a woodpecker can sometimes indicate insect infestations in trees.
Conservation efforts protect habitats for endangered woodpecker species.