They may excavate a new hole each year, creating habitat for other large cavity nesting birds.

Most species also have some white areas of plumage, especially on the head, and some have additional red facial markings.

The male, female and juvenile plumages of each species usually differ, often in the extent of red on the crown and elsewhere on the head.

Dryocopus woodpeckers chip out large holes with their strong bills while searching out insects, especially beetle larvae in trees.

[3] The name is from the Ancient Greek word for a woodpecker druokopos combining druos "tree" and kopos "beating".