Steelpeckers were a carrion bird species that lacked sentience and were originally from the planet of Jakku. These creatures appeared unkempt and scruffy, characterized by their sparse black plumage. Their powerful beaks and talons, reinforced with iron and honed on discarded materials, were notable features. Their primary food source was metal, which they located via its magnetic signature. To aid in the digestion of the metal they ingested, steelpeckers accumulated vanadium, osmiridium, and corundum within their gizzards. Their name reflected their metallic diet, and they were valuable assets to scavengers, who harvested their remains and droppings. Steelpeckers were creatures of the night, exhibiting nocturnal behavior.
The steelpecker's creation was for the film Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens. The bird's initial concept stemmed from a discussion between the director J.J. Abrams and Steven Spielberg, ultimately resulting in the notion of a metal-eating bird. The vision was for the bird to emerge from the internal components of machinery, covered in oil and grime, with rust staining its feathers.