woodpecker

wood*peck*er

noun

{bc}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

acorn woodpecker

noun

{bc}a woodpecker ({it}Melanerpes formicivorus{/it}) found from the U.S. Pacific coast south to Colombia that stores acorns in small holes which it digs especially in the bark of trees

downy woodpecker

noun

{bc}a small black-and-white woodpecker ({it}Picoides pubescens{/it}) of North America that has a white back and is smaller than the hairy woodpecker

hairy woodpecker

noun

{bc}a common North American woodpecker ({it}Picoides villosus{/it}) closely resembling the downy woodpecker but larger with a longer bill

ivo*ry-billed woodpecker

noun

{bc}a very large black-and-white woodpecker ({it}Campephilus principalis{/it}) of the southeastern U.S. and Cuba that has a showy red crest in the male and is presumed extinct in the U.S.

pileated woodpecker

noun

{bc}a large red-crested North American woodpecker ({it}Dryocopus pileatus{/it}) that is black with white on the face, neck, and undersides of the wings

red-bel*lied woodpecker

noun

{bc}a woodpecker ({it}Melanerpes carolinus{/it}) of the eastern U.S. that has a barred black-and-white back, grayish-tan underparts tinged with red on the belly, and a red crown and nape in the male and a red nape in the female

red-cock*ad*ed woodpecker

noun

{bc}an endangered chiefly black-and-white woodpecker ({it}Picoides borealis{/it}) of the southeastern U.S. having a barred back, white cheek patches, and in the male a small tuft of red feathers on each side of the head

ivo*ry*bill

noun

{bc}{sx|ivory-billed woodpecker||}