Study reveals shock-absorbing ability of woodpecker beaks

Researchers at the Mississippi State University have discovered the exceptional energy dissipation abilities of the woodpecker’s beak. Woodpeckers use their beaks to make holes in trees for a variety of reasons, the most prevalent of which is to find food. Insect larvae discovered beneath the surface of tree bark are eaten by woodpeckers.Close examination revealed that the exterior or rhamphotheca layer of the beak was comprised of a keratin sheath that was organized in a scale pattern, with distinct boundaries between each scale, similar to that of other birds. The scale margins, which are not straight but instead follow a zig-zag course, were significantly more wiggly than those of other pecking birds, such as chickens. The researchers hypothesized that this would assist deflect compressive stresses as the beak collided with the wood. They discovered that the scales were thinner and longer than those of other pecking birds, allowing for more sliding of scales over one another during pecking and acting as a shock absorber. This exceptional discovery has already inspired scientists to design the new generation of shock absorbers.

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