Woolpeckers — And Other Figments of My Menagerinaration

Irv reveals a hitherto unknown species

A red cockaded woolpecker culls insects and detritus from a sheep. The sheep, while cooperative, are not particulary keen on being pecked upon.

Watched a great “Nature” documentary the other night on PBS, all about woodpeckers.

It was mentioned at the top of the show that there are 239 species of woodpeckers.

Correction, 240.

While on my travels, I discovered a hitherto unknown woodpecker that feeds exclusively on insects and detritus they find in the wool of sheep. I call it the Red Cockaded Woolpecker.

If you’re lucky you might find one by listening for the unique sound they make while feasting. I’d describe it as, “Fut, fut … fut, fut, fut … fut, fut, fut, fut.” Occasionally that call is puncutated with the sheep bleating in agony when the woolpecker’s powerful beak misses its mark and extracts a bit of mutton on the hoof.