ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ noun
: any of numerous birds of the family Picidae that have zygodactyl feet, stiff spiny tail feathers used in climbing or resting on tree trunks, a usually extensile tongue, a very hard bill used to drill the bark or wood of trees for insect food or to excavate nesting cavities, and generally parti-colored usually strongly contrasted black, white, brown, green, yellow, orange, and red plumage in varying proportions — see california woodpecker , downy woodpecker , flicker , great spotted woodpecker , green woodpecker , hairy woodpecker , imperial woodpecker , ivory-billed woodpecker , piculet , pileated woodpecker , redheaded woodpecker , sapsucker , three-toed woodpecker , wryneck