Woodpecker With Freakish Beak Photographed
This extraordinary woodpecker - with its freakishly long beak - has
been spotted feeding from a domestic garden feeder.
Bird watchers Janet and Bob Morton first spied red-crested male
'Woody' over the winter at their home in Rosedale, near Pickering,
North Yorkshire.
Mr Morton, 62, a retired RAF pilot, said: "Woody comes everyday now,
you can't miss him. We first noticed the beak at Christmas when he
arrived with a female and a baby.
"We just couldn't believe how big it was. Compared to his mate you can
see it should be at least half that size."
The woodpecker's beak is used to signal possession of territory to
rivals and locate winding tunnels in tree trunks containing grubs and
larvae.
Luckily, Woody has no trouble flying, nesting or feeding and has not
chopped down any trees so far.
Tony Richardson, from the RSPB in Exeter, said: "The creature does
have a serious beak deformity. It's probably 120 per cent bigger than
it should be.
"A bird's beak grows much like hair and nails on a human but natural
wear and tear should keep it in check, especially on a woodpecker.
"Many birds wouldn't be able to survive with this handicap but luckily
woodpeckers have enormous tongues so this one is still able to gather
food."
The Telegraph: Late April 2008
