There are nearly two dozen kinds of woodpeckers in North America and over 200 hundred kinds throughout the rest of the world. The smallest in North America is the Downy, at 6½ inches long, and the largest is the Pileated Woodpecker which is 16 to 20 inches long. All of them climb up and down tree trunks in their search for food. The Creator has made it easy for them to do this by giving them two strong toes pointing forward and one or two pointing backward, as well as stiff tail feathers that press against the trunk to give them extra support.
Woodpeckers are considered by many to be the most incredible of all birds as they slam their beaks against tree trunks up to hundreds of times a minute for several hours a day. Any other bird or animal trying to do this would damage its head, neck and body so severely that it would not survive long. But God designed woodpeckers with unique bodies. He has given them a special job to do, which helps trees, other animals and also people. Their job involves drilling holes in trees looking for wood-eating grubs and insects. For this job they have been given specially designed heads with powerful necks, and strong, sharp beaks that continue growing to offset all this hard use.
The Creator has made special provisions to protect their brains from all this slamming. Their skulls have some dense, spongy bone, especially in front and in back, sandwiched between layers of harder bone. The soft bones help absorb and distribute the shock each time the woodpecker strikes a tree. Woodpeckers also have a bone called the hyoid bone to hold their extremely long tongues. This bone wraps around their heads from their beaks, directing the force created by hitting the tree around their brain instead of into it.
Another reason woodpeckers drill holes in trees is to make holes for their nests. They first cut a perfectly round or oval entrance and then carve out a cavity up to two feet deep. Chips falling to the bottom of the hole make a soft base for the eggs that will be laid. Many kinds of woodpeckers use their nesting holes for only one season. Then the abandoned holes are useful for other birds and animals.
Our opening verse mentions the helmet of salvation that the Lord has provided to protect our minds as we go through an evil world, just as He provides special ways to protect woodpeckers’ brains. God’s salvation is so complete that it will keep us from evil every step of our lives, if we learn all it means and then apply it.
Did You Know?
There are nearly two dozen kinds of woodpeckers in North America.
Messages of God’s Love 10/5/2025