Pets have a way of sensing things long before we notice. That’s exactly what happened when two dogs suddenly became restless, reacting to something their owners couldn’t hear. Moments later, the reason became clear — a loud, rapid tapping sound echoed from the fireplace. It startled everyone, especially the dogs, who couldn’t stay calm with that strange noise coming from inside the house.
The sound was sharp and quick — a fast rat-a-tat-tat-tat — making it easy to understand why the dogs were acting so jumpy. At first, it seemed like a woodpecker might’ve gotten stuck in the chimney, pecking at the metal flue.
But as people watched the video online, they weren’t too sure about that guess. The tapping seemed a little too fast for a typical woodpecker. Before long, people began sharing their theories in the comments. Some suggested that the sound — and the little chirp that followed — pointed to a Northern Flicker rather than a regular woodpecker.
“The tapping in the fireplace sounds almost too fast for a woodpecker. After the video had gotten some attention, commenters speculated that it wasn’t a woodpecker in the fireplace. Users speculated that the more rapid tapping and chirp that followed sounded like a Northern Flicker.”
The tricky part is that these birds sound a lot alike. After listening closely, it’s hard to tell the difference between a Northern Flicker and a Pileated Woodpecker. The Pileated has a deeper, throatier call, while the Flicker’s sound is lighter and almost playful, like a young bird learning its voice. Still, no one is quite sure which one ended up in the chimney this time.
“After listening to their calls, it is difficult to tell the Northern flicker and the pileated woodpecker apart. The pileated seems more throaty, while the flicker sounds light and almost juvenile. We’re unsure if we’ll ever know which type of bird is up there.”
What Happens If the Bird Can’t Get Out?
The family now faces a challenge. If the bird can’t find its way out, they’ll likely need to call in a professional — someone who knows how to safely remove animals stuck in places like chimneys. It’s not an easy task and definitely not something they can handle on their own without risking harm to the bird or themselves.
Until help arrives, they’ll have to put up with the constant noise — banging, clattering, and tapping sounds echoing through the house. The dogs will keep barking every time it starts up, making it hard for anyone to relax. Looks like the family will have to get used to the noise for a little while.
“If the bird cannot find its way out, the family will probably have to hire a wildlife rescue company specializing in things like that. Freeing birds from a chimney can be tricky. Until then, the family will have to adjust to the random banging, clattering, and tap-tapping. That will get the dogs barking; they can expect to live with a cacophony of noise for a little while.”
While the family deals with the chaos, the internet has already turned this situation into entertainment. One TikTok creator, Some Guy Avery, even made a hilarious split-screen video pretending to go full Call of Duty mode to “rescue” the family from their feathery intruder.
“Probably to the family’s dismay, the internet will be having fun with this situation. TikTok user Some Guy Avery did a split screen in which he went into Call of Duty mode in an effort to ‘help’ the family. We’re unsure if Avery is ready for the strenuous life of animal control.”
It’s safe to say that while the family might be stressed, the internet is having a good laugh — and everyone is waiting to see how this unusual bird drama ends.
