How do piciform birds help control insect pests and tree diseases?

Piciform birds, particularly those within the order Piciformes, play a vital role in maintaining forest health by consuming insects, including those that inhabit areas within tree bark that are inaccessible to other bird species.1

By preying on these insects, piciforms help control pest populations and prevent the spread of tree diseases, such as Dutch elm disease, by destroying the insect carriers responsible for transmitting pathogens. While most species in this group are beneficial insectivores, it is worth noting that a few species, such as sapsuckers, can occasionally damage trees by creating openings that allow disease agents to enter, though healthy trees are generally capable of healing these wounds.12