Is it true that the red headed woodpecker kills trees ?

Question

Old farmers used to say this and i know that theses birds were rare at one time i have searched the net and can't quite find the site i'm looking for with enough information on them

thanks for any help

Answer 1

No they don't kill trees as a matter of fact they actually benefit the trees .Most of the time they drill holes in trees that are already dead because they have more bugs in the wood .If they are pecking on live trees its because they are getting bugs under the bark that would kill the tree .Many people might think seeing alot of places they have made holes in a tree ,that they killed it,but in fact the tree was infested with insects that killed ,it which they eat .

Answer 2

Farmers will tell you all kinds of reasons to hate all kinds of things, they just need to blame it on something, bad corn crop; it's the turkeys fault of course, the dog they let run around goes missing, it's those damn coyotes, surely not the cars on the road. Raptors are vermin, because we all know they are detrimental in consuming all sorts of rodents... But I digress.

Anyways red-headed woodpeckers don't kill trees. Like other woodpeckers they'll go after insects in the tree which are likely the cause of the tree dying. Only other reason they'd drill a hole is for a nest and a simple hole won't kill a healthy tree , I've seen trees with a literally a tunnel carved out by pileated woodpeckers and they are still alive years after. In the case of the red-headed woodpecker this doesn't even matter as they choose to make their nest in dead trees or dead portions of trees. Another reason they might say that they are killing trees is that they benefited quite a bit from dutch elm disease killing trees, the dead trees provided ample food and good nesting sites . As with other woodpeckers, by drilling holes also creates cavities for cavity dwelling species that can't make them; greater-crested flycatcher and flying squirrel for example.

Answer 3

Do Woodpeckers Kill Trees

Answer 4

Most woodpeckers eat insects that are in the wood. Those trees are usually dead or dying already.

Some woodpeckers create a hole and eat the sap that seeps out but I doubt that would kill the tree.

Answer 5

yes and no. They're trying to get to the bugs under the bark. Enough holes will kill the tree, but that means the tree is already buggy so probably going to die anyway.

Answer 6

mst b dng sum prjct work else whr do ppl take care of these beautiful creatures.....
thy dnt actually kill trees..but in process of maiking holes all over, the strength of the trees decrease but tht to a very lil xtnt....