acorn woodpecker
noun
: a woodpecker (Melanerpes formicivorus) 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
Examples of acorn woodpecker in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the giant redwood and oak trees that surround it, a family of acorn woodpeckers make their nests.
—
Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
The trail is also home to some particularly noisy acorn woodpeckers who’ve perhaps grown accustomed to a few visitors.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Bird watchers can spot everything from California condors to acorn woodpeckers, and campers can now reserve a site inside the park limits.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2024
Why are acorn woodpeckers the hippies of the bird world?
—Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
On an average morning, Susan Glass can sit on the patio at her condominium complex in Saratoga, Calif., and identify as many as 15 different bird species by ear: a steller’s jay, an acorn woodpecker, an oak titmouse.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Paul Bannick, who has written two books about woodpeckers, said the acorn woodpecker, a species common on the West Coast, often amasses thousands of the nuts for winter.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
On one April day, a female acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes fomicivorus) was observed drilling an astounding 286 holes into the trunk of a pine tree over the course of nine hours and 27 minutes.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
About the only bird with red around here is the acorn woodpecker, but that’s just a small cap on top of their heads.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2020
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Manjula Martin, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024
The trail is also home to some particularly noisy acorn woodpeckers who’ve perhaps grown accustomed to a few visitors.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024
Bird watchers can spot everything from California condors to acorn woodpeckers, and campers can now reserve a site inside the park limits.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2024
Why are acorn woodpeckers the hippies of the bird world?
—Kelcie Pegher, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2023
On an average morning, Susan Glass can sit on the patio at her condominium complex in Saratoga, Calif., and identify as many as 15 different bird species by ear: a steller’s jay, an acorn woodpecker, an oak titmouse.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Paul Bannick, who has written two books about woodpeckers, said the acorn woodpecker, a species common on the West Coast, often amasses thousands of the nuts for winter.
—Kyle Melnick, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2023
On one April day, a female acorn woodpecker (Melanerpes fomicivorus) was observed drilling an astounding 286 holes into the trunk of a pine tree over the course of nine hours and 27 minutes.
—Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2011
About the only bird with red around here is the acorn woodpecker, but that’s just a small cap on top of their heads.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Dec. 2020
Dictionary Entries Near acorn woodpecker
Cite this Entry
“Acorn woodpecker.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/acorn%20woodpecker. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share