When we think of birds we tend to picture them in our minds either in flight or in trees. Obviously, not all birds are capable of flight, and not all birds live in trees, but a lot of them do. Woodpeckers are birds that are highly dependent on trees. Not only do they feed mainly on insects that live underneath the bark in trees and decaying wood, but they also nest in holes in trees. Knowing this, then, it’s not surprising that woodpeckers are wonderful at climbing trees. Their toes are arranged with two facing forward and two facing back in order to give them maximum gripping ability. Thanks to this, they can climb almost straight up a branch or tree trunk without needing to use their beaks or flapping their wings. This male red bellied woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was steadily climbing on this dead branch as he checked cracks and crevices for insects and grubs. Even though it was a pretty breezy morning, he seemed to be entirely unaffected and it was obvious by the way he moved that the climb was almost effortless. It’s always enjoyable watching these guys athletically climb, jump, and fly from branch to branch.