Picinae

Woodpeckers are near passerine birds of the order Piciformes. They have a world-wide distribution with many species.

The Woodpeckers and Wryneck in the order Piciformes have zygodactyl or “yoked" feet, with two toes pointing forward, and two backward. These feet, though adapted for clinging to a vertical surface, can be used for grasping or perching. The long tongue can be darted forward to capture insects

Woodpeckers gained their English name because of the habit of some species of tapping and pecking noisily on tree trunks with their beaks. This is both a means of communication to signal possession of territory to their rivals, and a method of echo-locating grubs under the bark of the tree.

Some species are

• Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major
• Lesser Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos minor
• Middle Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos medius

• Green Woodpecker Picus viridis

• Greater Flameback Chrysocolaptes lucidus
• White-naped Woodpecker Chrysocolaptes festivus

• Fine-spotted Woodpecker Campothera punctoligara
• Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campothera abingoni

• Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

• Ivory-billed Woodpecker Campephilus principalis (probably extinct)

• Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
• Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus
• Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis