Posted for the gorgeous photo, which was featured in a New York Times article about woodpeckers. We have a small woods behind our home; I leave standing deadwood there for the woodpeckers, so we've seen six different species from our window over the years.
"The Spanish name for woodpeckers, pájaros carpinteros or carpenter birds, honors their contribution: These are ecosystem engineers who apply their excavating skills to carve roosts for themselves and their offspring, many of which are subsequently repurposed as nests by birds as diverse as wood ducks, owls, bluebirds, tree swallows and more — and by other animals, including squirrels, martens, bats and raccoons...Male woodpeckers typically start work on several nests in anticipation of mating season, excavating each cavity pretty far along before showing the possibilities to the female, who takes her pick. Some of the extras represent those potential nests for other animals."
There are numerous tips for attracting and maintaining woodpeckers at the link.
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