Blacksmiths (woodpeckers)

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Woodpecker smithy in the Berlin zoo
Acorn opened in a forge.

Under Forge ( English anvil , literally, anvil ') is understood in the ornithology a natural or adapted office in trees or walls and rocks where different species of birds hard-shelled food items such as nuts or beetles pinch to edit them and for consumption to be able to prepare. Since woodpeckers in particular develop these methods, one also speaks of woodpecker forges.

The simplest form of blacksmiths are the occasional blacksmiths, which are used in addition to woodpeckers for a number of bird species, such as song thrush ( Turdus philomelos ), nuthatch ( Sitta europaea ) and some species of titmouse ( Parus sp.). This is the next best hard surface structure or bark crack that enables the food that has just been found to be processed. Such occasional forges are mostly used only once. The next stage of development is pre-forging, for example particularly inexpensive stone slabs on which snails or nuts can be hammered, or bark and cracks in the wall into which food objects are wedged. Such pre-forges are specifically approached with a suitable food item; large amounts of food residues can accumulate in particularly frequented forges. The most developed form of blacksmithing is the real forge. To set up such forges is only mastered by a few birds, among them the great spotted woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major ). It comes very close to real tool use. Natural cracks or niches in trees are processed in such a way that they fit exactly for a specific food object. Such forges are set up especially in winter, when certain conifer seeds are the main food for the great spotted woodpecker.

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