
The largest of all woodpeckers (45cm), it is a solitary bird. It feeds on plants, insect borers and ants. Hyperactive, it is always moving. It goes from one tree to another in an irregular and powerful flight. Its beak allows it to pierce tree trunks to search for food or to create holes in which it can nest. Once abandoned, the nests are used by chickadees, Boreal owls, martens, bees, etc.