Acorn Woodpeckers Can Store As Much As 50.000 Acorns in a Single Tree
Once a team of acorn woodpeckers has had their way with a tree, the tree is left nearly unrecognizable, and covered in small, individually bored holes. It becomes what is called a “granary tree.” These birds make trees into huge acorn stores. Unlike other woodpeckers, which peck insects out of trees, the acorn woodpecker has a completely different way of getting by.
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Hoarding food for winter is definitely not unheard of among birds, but the acorn woodpecker's habit of thoughtfully drilling holes in trees and placing hundreds of acorns in them is quite unique. Its complex feeding and (sometimes dramatic) social behavior make this busy hoarder probably one of the most interesting birds out there.