Why do woodpeckers peck trees without suffering brain damage?

Woodpeckers are built to hammer repeatedly at wood at very high speeds. Their beaks act like chisels, while the skull, hyoid apparatus, and strong neck muscles help absorb and redirect shock. For years people assumed the birds’ heads must be under extreme stress, but studies have shown the situation is more nuanced: the birds are adapted to reduce damaging forces, and their brains are securely packed in the skull. Their pecking also happens in short, controlled bursts rather than random impacts. This combination lets them drill for insects and carve nesting holes efficiently.