Why the woodpecker's architectural habits are essential for the survival of other forest birds

Nature · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: The order Piciformes includes woodpeckers, toucans, and honey guides, comprising about 450 species worldwide. While these birds are known for their specialized beaks and insect-eating habits, their most significant ecological contribution is often hidden: by excavating nesting cavities in trees, they create vital housing for countless other forest species.

The Piciformes order is a diverse, primarily tropical group of arboreal birds found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. While the order contains six distinct families, the woodpeckers of the family Picidae are the most widespread and account for more than half of all known species. These birds range in size from the tiny 8-centimeter rufous piculet to the 63-centimeter toco toucan. Their evolutionary history is complex; many researchers suggest that modern piciforms are specialized remnants of a once more diverse array of birds that may have been pushed into niche roles by the rise of the highly successful Passeriformes order.

Ecologically, these birds are masters of specialized foraging. Woodpeckers, for instance, can reach insects hidden deep within tree bark, a behavior that helps control pest populations and prevents the spread of tree diseases like Dutch elm disease. Other members of the order exhibit unique dietary adaptations, such as honey guides, which are the only birds capable of digesting beeswax, and toucans, which play a critical role in forest regeneration by dispersing seeds through their droppings.

Perhaps the most vital role these birds play is as ecosystem engineers. Woodpeckers and barbets excavate their own nesting and roosting cavities, often in dead or dying trees. Once these birds move on, their abandoned holes provide essential shelter for a wide variety of other vertebrates. This service is so critical that foresters in Europe often install artificial nest boxes to compensate for a lack of natural woodpecker-excavated holes, ensuring that other insect-eating species have the habitat they need to thrive in managed forests.

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