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Why Acorn Woodpeckers Are The Ultimate Bird Hoarders

October 24, 2024

Acorn woodpeckers are truly fascinating creatures with a unique talent: they’re the ultimate hoarders of the bird world!

Credit: Lorraine Bruno / FWS

These industrious birds love to collect acorns and “tattoo” them into thousands of tiny holes they drill in dead trees. Known as granaries, these trees serve as massive storage units for their winter food supply.

Over generations, acorn woodpeckers reuse the same trees, which can hold up to an incredible 50,000 acorns!

This clever food storage system has captured the attention of scientists for decades. Walt Koenig, a Senior Scientist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, has been studying acorn woodpeckers since 1972.

“They’re one of the most interesting birds in North America,” Koenig says. “In fact, I can’t think of any others that even come close.”

These birds have built a culture around their granaries, passing them down through generations like prized family heirlooms. Each acorn is meticulously placed into a hole, forming an elaborate pattern of dots across the tree trunks. It’s a sight to behold—one that reminds us of how wonderfully intricate nature can be.

If you ever see a tree filled with rows of acorns carefully packed into holes, know that you’re witnessing the handiwork of one of North America’s most remarkable birds!