Hammerheads - Picids in Tehachapi

Written by Clark Moore

“Tap Tap Tap Tap”

Twelve species represent the bird family Picidae (aka picids) in the Tehachapi Mountains listing area. Rarely do even non-bird watchers mis-identify “hammerheads.” Observers may not know what species they have seen, but they do know it was a woodpecker! Four of the twelve are sapsuckers, however they also tap tap tap.

Unlike most song birds, hammerheads usually have two forward facing toes and two rear facing toes (zygoddactyl). Two exceptions, neither of which are present here, are the Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpeckers. Braced by their short, stiff tail feathers, woodpeckers hop up the tree foraging for insects. Their beaks are modified for hammering, while there tongues are modeled for picking insects from the bark of trees, or, in the case of sapsuckers, mopping up tree sap.

Many woodpeckers are sexually dichromatic. Usually these differences between male and female are evident in the face patterns and head color making for easy identification. Then again, some differences are dramatic. Check the Williamson’s Sapsucker! Having subtle differences in field marks and physical structure, several species are difficult to identify from one another - examples are the Hairy and Downy, and the Nuttall’s and Ladder-backed.

For non club members, here is a summary of the local woodpeckers. Sapsuckers; Yellow-bellied (vagrant), Red-naped (rare), Williamson’s (vagrant), Red-breasted (uncommon). Woodpeckers; Lewis’s (uncommon migrant), Ladder-backed (rare), Nuttall’s (fairly common), Downy (uncommon), Hairy (fairly common), Northern Flicker – red-shafted (common), White-headed (uncommon), and, oh yes, Acorn (common).

In past columns we have mentioned many of the resident species, and in particular, we told the life story of the Acorn Woodpecker and its exceptional and unique biology. Although much more could be written on the biology and behavior of the many species making up this unique world wide family, the thrust of this column is, as the title indicates, the tap tap tap tap of the hammerheads.

All woodpeckers give simple calls to express alarm, to keep contact, territory and mate defense. Many birds communicate in ways other than vocalizations. Displays, such as we see with grouse, cranes, Western and Clark’s Grebes is one method. Drumming is another. In the event the reader has not noticed, all woodpeckers and sapsuckers drum.

These birds make noise by beating on surfaces for cavity excavation, foraging and drumming. Of these only drumming is a form of communication. Drumming can be distinguished by its rhythmic, rapid strikes as opposed to the slow, intermittent taping of other activities. Although it is difficult to identify species by the drumming, through the cadence and rhythm it is possible - especially between woodpeckers and sapsuckers.

Drumming is a seasonal activity by both male and female and is done to attract a mate and/or to declare a territory. Since drumming is meant for long distance communication, acoustically hollow tree limbs and stumps, utility poles, along with metal surfaces such as stove pipes and rain gutters are preferred. This activity is short lived in the spring, and, since it is not for excavation purposes, little damage to the surfaces occurs.

When done on dead or live trees, the tap tap tap tap of nest building, foraging and food storage should be of no bother except when it is a sapsucker working over your favorite fruit tree. A protective measure is to wrap burlap around the damage portion. If you have a number of ornamental trees wrap them, but leave the damaged tree for the sapsuckers very own. Sapsuckers tend to drill into trees which are already damaged or diseased.

Although homeowners do, hammerheads do not get headaches from hammering on houses. Soft redwood, cedar and shake sidings are their favorite. They do not relish composite woods, however any siding is vulnerable. If the bird’s objective is a nesting or roosting site, damage control should start immediately. Metal sheathing can be used to cover the hole area, then painted. If the hole is as yet not large, use the putty method.

Woodpeckers are primarily insect eaters. If they are foraging, it may be for insects working in the siding. Researchers across the country have found Carpenter Bees, Leafcutter Bees and Grass Bagworms nesting in sidings, especially grooved plywood. Get rid of the insects and the foraging woodpeckers should move to your neighbor.

Acorn Woodpeckers construct granaries to store acorns. It is not unusual to find old pine and oak tree granaries containing 20,000 stored acorns to get the birds through fall and winter. Most of our woodpecker phone calls have to do with house siding being hammered on for storage. Again, the soft woods (redwood and cedar) are the sidings of choice.

Sound and movement deterrents are not successful, nor are fake owls and hawks. Acorn Woodpeckers look and act dumb, but they’re not that dumb. Visual deterrents such as aluminum foil or reflective tape strips hung freely so they may blow in the breeze in the bird’s working area seem to work in some cases. Lightweight nylon or plastic netting attached from overhanging eaves may also work.

During the fall storage season, Acorn Woodpeckers will stuff acorns in any hole or space they can find including roof vents. Cover these openings with hardware cloth using a hose clamp. Any crack or opening, such as flashing boards or loose siding panels are an invitation for the birds to stuff in acorns. We once had three buckets of acorns jammed in behind a long section of flashing.

We have no remedy for hammerheads, or Towhees, and Ravens for that matter, who preemptively attack windows, hubcaps, and other metal reflective material for days (in one case 2 months) on end. This behavior is thought to be territorial. However we have seen this occur with no image reflected to stimulate the bird.

Good birding – gone birding.

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