A woodpecker's skull has structures that cushion the impact of repeated pecking.

The longer version

Pecking subjects the head to repeated high deceleration. Woodpeckers spread that load using a slightly spongy, plate-like bone at the front of the skull, a strap of bone and muscle that holds the brain snug, and a straight, tightly held path of impact so the head does not rotate or whip sideways.

A third eyelid closes just before contact to keep the eye in place, and the hyoid bones wrapped around the skull act as a brace. The brain is small and packed tightly, leaving little room to slosh. This is impact management rather than shock absorption; the bird still takes forces that would damage a larger animal.

Where this entry sits

Here you will find feathered trivia about flight, migration, nests, eggs, and the songs birds sing. Expect short surprising facts on penguins, owls, hummingbirds, and other familiar birds from gardens, forests, wetlands, and distant coastlines. The full list sits on the Birds page, where every entry is listed in order.