Woodpeckers commonly use their beak to produce characteristic communication drumming.
A woodpecker’s rapid strikes against a resonant branch, trunk, or other surface create a loud rhythmic signal. The drumming can advertise territory and attract mates, so it functions as communication rather than simply being a by-product of feeding.
Woodpeckers also peck wood while excavating nest cavities and searching for insects. Those feeding and excavation strikes can sound different from the shorter, faster bursts used for drumming. The exact surface matters because a hollow branch or metal object may amplify the signal.
Woodpeckers have specialized anatomy that helps protect the brain during repeated impacts, including a strong skull and shock-absorbing structures. Their beaks are also adapted for striking wood, but the sound itself is produced by the interaction between the beak and the resonant surface.