Woodpeckers and the damage that they do are common here. We have several different species of woodpeckers in Georgia. The damage that they do to can look bad on trees. Let’s talk about which species we have here, how to identify their damage, and what you can do about it.
Woodpeckers are found all over the world except Australia. Generally, they like to live in groves or areas with large scattered trees. They don’t like areas with unbroken forest. You may see them in forest clearings or along the edge of the woods. In the mountains, we have red-bellied woodpeckers, red-headed woodpeckers, hairy and downy woodpeckers, yellow-bellied sapsuckers, pileated woodpeckers, and northern flickers. Most of these woodpeckers can be found in our area year round. The yellow-bellied sapsucker is a migratory bird that spends its summers far up north in Canada. They will move south to Georgia during the wintertime.
Woodpeckers use their strong, pointed beak to chisel and pry bark off the tree. Most woodpeckers have a similar diet. They like to eat a variety of insects, spiders, earthworms, nuts, seeds, and berries. They will also eat the bark of a tree. Sapsuckers will also eat sap from trees, thus giving them their name. Woodpeckers have unique feet to allow them to hang onto trees while they drill. Their talons form an X shape, giving them more leverage to hang on. These feet are called zygodactyl feet. Many woodpeckers also have stiff tail feathers that they can use to help support themselves against the tree.
Woodpeckers have special eyes that have an extra membrane over them called a nictitating membrane that closes right before the bird makes contact with the wood. Their brains are small and well protected so that they don’t get a headache from all the drilling that they do. A woodpecker is estimated to peck between 8,000 and 12,000 times a day.
Woodpeckers will peck many different kinds of trees. They’ll peck apple, pear, maple, hemlock, pines, and many other species. If a tree has been pecked, the tree will usually increase sap flow and form a callous over the hole. Woodpeckers will keep returning to the hole to keep it open and find new bugs to eat. Usually the holes from woodpeckers are between the size of a dime and the end of a pen. They also have a very regular pattern. The holes will be very neat rows. Sometimes woodpeckers will peck on houses. Most likely, they are drumming, which is done so that other birds hear them and stay away from their territory.
Most of the time the damage done to the tree doesn’t kill the tree. Some trees may become infected where the holes are, but most of the time the tree survives. If there are so many holes that they create a continuous ring around the tree the tree will die. You can try putting protective screening around the tree to keep them from reaching the bark. Another strategy is to buy an owl decoy. You’ll need to move the owl decoy every day for it to be effective. Shiny pinwheels or foil strips can also scare birds away, but you have to keep moving them. Keep in mind that woodpeckers, as most birds, are protected and it is a federal offense to kill one or disturb their nest. Therefore, you will need to use non-lethal control methods.
If you have questions about woodpeckers or damage on your trees contact your local Extension Office or send me an email at Jacob.Williams@uga.edu.