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Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

birdwatchingdaily.com

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Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#4
post #2

This explanation is apparently controversial https://www.science.org/content/article/contrary-popular-bel...

> Whether digging for food, constructing housing, or luring mates, woodpeckers bang their heads into trees about 20 times per second.

Is that correct? I can't wrap my head around this, how is it possible that they do it so fast?

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#5
post #2

This explanation is apparently controversial https://www.science.org/content/article/contrary-popular-bel...

> Whether digging for food, constructing housing, or luring mates, woodpeckers bang their heads into trees about 20 times per second. Is that correct? I can't wrap my head around this, how is it possible that they do it so fast?

If you've ever heard a wood pecker in action, 20/second doesn't sound completely crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6XOyUey4nQ

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Whether digging for food, constructing housing, or luring mates, woodpeckers bang their heads into trees about 20 times per second. Is that correct? I can't wrap my head around this, how is it possible that they do it so fast?

If you've ever heard a wood pecker in action, 20/second doesn't sound completely crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6XOyUey4nQ

Interesting how its more like a bouncing ball easing off the bounce, instead of a pneumatic hammer.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#8
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you've ever heard a wood pecker in action, 20/second doesn't sound completely crazy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6XOyUey4nQ

Interesting how its more like a bouncing ball easing off the bounce, instead of a pneumatic hammer.

Scaling laws help.

Re: Why woodpeckers can hammer without getting headaches (2022)

#10
post #3

That is a fairly amazing tongue. Had a flicker in the yard the other day but did not get to see that tongue, will have to watch for it in the future.

We have lots of northern flickers where I live and they seem particularly keen to machine gun hammer on the eaves of my house at 5am.
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