The preferred instrument of the woodpecker finch is a carefully chosen strong thin twig or cactus needle. Holding this tool firmly in its beak, the finch probes the holes and cracks in tree bark looking for the insect larvae that lead hidden lives there. Once it locates its unfortunate victims, it either literally skewers them or pushes them toward an accessible opening.
The preferred instrument of the woodpecker finch is a carefully chosen strong thin twig or cactus needle. Holding this tool firmly in its beak, the finch probes the holes and cracks in tree bark looking for the insect larvae that lead hidden lives there. Once it locates its unfortunate victims, it either literally skewers them or pushes them toward an accessible opening.