If I were a woodpecker, I would want to be a male Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) and slam my head into something soft as a pillow—like this cattail—and not always into solid wood. Of course, you can end up with a mouthful of cattail fibers, and not just a tasty bug.
Downy woodpecker with mouthful of cattail
Downy woodpecker on cattail
More seriously, scientists are doing research to figure out why woodpeckers don’t end up with concussions, given that they can slam their heads into wood with the force of 1,000 times that of gravity, according to an article on livescience.com. By comparison, humans can survive a force of up to G’s, according to Air Force research, though there are reports of race car drivers surviving a force of over 100 G’s. According to the article, Chinese researchers are studying the microscopic structure of the bones surrounding the brain and also the beak to try to understand how the woodpecker’s brain is protected. If you are interested in the research, an article on a website called Inkfish explains in layman’s terms the research methodology and some of the preliminary conclusions.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
I wonder if this bird is nest building. Female red wing blackbirds line their nests with cattail in the spring.
I never thought of that. In this case, though, I am a little doubtful, because the little woodpecker went up and down a number of different cattails and didn’t seem to be gathering the material. Who knows, though, the mysteries of what birds do and think?
great photos!
Thanks, Vicki.
Very interesting. I was photographing a woodpecker this week as well and thinking about concussions.
Wonder if some of the fluff goes back to its cavity for insulation this winter. Enjoyed the pics!
Thanks. It’s possible, though I didn’t see the woodpecker transport any away with him. He kept going up and down on the cattails, possibly trying to find food.