Words / A1

WUDP-ek-uh/ˈwʊdpekə/

A woodpecker is a bird with a strong pointed beak that taps holes in tree trunks to find insects. Countable: a woodpecker, woodpeckers. Write one word: woodpecker. A sparrow is smaller and brown and does not tap trees like this; a kingfisher dives into water, not into wood. Mix-up: wood + pecker as two words; and woodpecker vs wood (the material) alone.

Meaning

A bird with a strong beak that taps holes in tree trunks.

Examples

• “A woodpecker is tapping on the oak.”
• “We heard a woodpecker in the forest.”
• “The woodpecker left a round hole in the bark.”

Good to know

a woodpecker (one word, taps trees). Contrast: sparrow (small, no tapping), kingfisher (water). Mix-up: wood.

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