Woodpecker hammering is a full-body affair.

The article focuses on the intricate mechanics behind the pecking behavior of downy woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens), revealing how their muscle coordination and breathing techniques enable them to strike with remarkable force. Researchers from Brown University studied eight wild woodpeckers, using electrodes to measure muscle contractions while the birds engaged in drilling and tapping behaviors. The findings indicate that woodpeckers utilize a complex choreography of muscle movements, similar to human hammering techniques, and exhale during strikes, akin to the breathing patterns of tennis players. This research highlights the potential for nonvocal acoustic communication in birds, suggesting that their percussive behaviors may be more closely related to singing than previously understood. [Extracted from the article]