Sounds and Vocal Behavior

Yellow-tufted Woodpecker is very vocal and has an extensive repertoire. Perhaps the most frequently heard vocalizations are those given in groups, especially a "cat-sup, cat-sup, cat-sup, cat-sup with a nasal quality" (Short 1970) or "a wik-up wik-up series" (Lane, in Schulenberg et al. 2010), which frequently is given when two birds meet (Short 1970). Other vocalizations include chowp and repeated churrr-dowp calls, given by single birds (Short 1970); and, in groupos of two or more individuals, a series of rapid, staccato, high-pitched kwirr notes, usually five times in succession; 
Kwi-ih-ih-ih, with a single longer kwi note followed by a variable number of ih notes, usually with longer pauses between progressive ih notes,; frenetic high-pitched eh notes in various combinations; and a repeated phrase consisting of three notes in rapid succession, vi-o-lin.

Additional audio recordings of vocalizations of Yellow-tufted Woodpecker can be heard at Macaulay Library and at xeno-canto.

Rapid drumming with bill.