Acorn Woodpeckers Can Store As Much As 50.000 Acorns in a Single Tree

Unlike other woodpeckers, which peck insects out of trees, the acorn woodpecker has a completely different way of getting by.

Hoarding food for winter is definitely not unheard of among birds, but the acorn woodpecker’s habit of thoughtfully drilling holes in trees and placing hundreds of acorns in them is quite unique. Its complex feeding and (sometimes dramatic) social behavior make this busy hoarder probably one of the most interesting birds out there.

The acorn woodpecker is one of the 239 species of woodpeckers that make up the family Picidae. It can be found from the coastal areas of Oregon and California, all the way to Mexico and Colombia.

These birds prefer western oak and pine-oak woodlands on higher elevations, but they are also relatively common in urban and suburban areas. It’s likely that if you see one, you’ll find others soon, since they are organized in families of up to 12 individuals.

The family units live within a particular territory, and they nest communally. Their nests are usually built in large cavities in dead trees. Therefore, the activities of acorn woodpeckers happen around their tree and within the territory the family holds.