How Woodpeckers Hammer Trees Without Getting Headaches

If you banged your head against a tree even once, it would really hurt. But woodpeckers peck trees thousands of times every day, hammering away at speeds faster than you can blink. How do they do it without getting a terrible headache?

Woodpeckers have special shock absorbers built right into their heads. Their skulls are thick and spongy, which helps cushion their brains. They also have strong muscles around their heads that tighten right before each peck, acting like a protective helmet.

Inside their heads, woodpeckers have very little space between their brain and skull. This keeps the brain from sloshing around when they peck. Their brains are also positioned in a way that spreads out the force of each hit, rather than letting it all hit one spot.

Even their tongue helps protect them. A woodpecker's tongue is super long and wraps all the way around the inside of its skull. This creates another layer of cushioning that holds everything steady.

Woodpeckers peck trees to find insects hiding in the bark, to make holes for nests, and to drum loud sounds that tell other woodpeckers where they are. Thanks to their amazing built-in safety gear, they can keep hammering away all day long without any pain at all.