bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects
"The busy woodpecker hammered against the old oak tree, its sturdy tail bracing itself as it drilled deep to reach hidden grubs."
Any bird of species-rich family Picidae, with a strong pointed beak suitable for pecking holes in wood.
"The loud tapping sound coming from our oak tree was just a woodpecker using its strong beak to drill into the bark for insects."
The word "woodpecker" comes from combining the words "wood" and "pecker." It replaced an older term, speight, to describe a bird that pecks at trees.