Stupid Downy Woodpecker pecking a telegram out of a gutter

[westernywildlife]

Its called drumming. ;)

[RobMacKendrick]

Woodpeckers like to peck on stuff that makes a loud sound. I've read several explanations: it tones their shock absorbers, it's a territorial declaration. But some scientists say they just like the cool sound. That's my vote, too.

I once lived in a trailer park with a flicker that loved to drum on the walls of the mobile homes; made big, hollow boom-boom-boom sound he just couldn't get enough of. He also liked machine-gunning the transformer box on a nearby power pole.