Attracting and Feeding WOODPECKERS

Attracting and Feeding WOODPECKERS

Woodpecker species have marks that distinguish the males from the females.  Many Woodpeckers have a small red, yellow, or black mark on or near the head that indicates the bird is a male.  

Year round Woodpeckers are the Downy, Hairy, Red Bellied, and Northern Flicker.

The DOWNY WOODPECKER is the most common woodpecker you will see at your feeder.  A Downy Woodpecker is about half the size of a Robin.  Males will have a red mark on their heads.  They will come to seed and suet Feeders.

HAIRY WOODPECKERS are larger and a much longer bill than a Downy Woodpecker.  Drums on hollow logs and branches in spring to announce territory.  Moves around a lot from tree to tree looking for food.  Will come to feeders and suet.

RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS dig holes in rotten wood to find spiders, beetles and more.  Returns to same tree to excavate a new next below nest of the previous year.  Eats insects, fruit, nuts, will come to feeders and suet.

NORTHERN FLICKERS are the only woodpeckers to regularly feed on the ground, preferring ants and beetles.  Flickers are attracted to nesting boxes, just add some wood shavings in the bottom.  WILD BIRD CONNECTION sells Flicker Nesting Boxes.  Will come to your suet.

RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS are a summer woodpecker.  Only woodpecker in the Dakotas with an entire red head.  At one time was the most seen Woodpecker, but their numbers have been dropping over the years. The male and females look exactly alike.  Will come to seed and suet feeders.  

ATTRACTING WOODPECKERS is fairly easy.  Suet and peanuts are their favorites to put in your feeding station.  WOODPECKERS favorite feeder is a hollowed-out log the you can insert suet logs.  WILD BIRD CONNECTION sells different sized Suet Logs.  WOODPECKERS will also eat mealworms, especially in the Spring when raising their young (protein for their young).  Downy Woodpeckers love black oil sunflower and sunflower hearts (hulled)

WOODPECKER FEEDERS .  Log Feeders are close to how they feed in nature, perched vertically on a tree branch.  Suet wire cages. Suet Feeders with a tail prop is wonderful for Woodpeckers to brace their tail feathers.  A Wire Tube Feeder is one of the best ways to attract WOODPECKERS.  The small openings in the metal mesh allow one peanut heart to be extracted at a time.  Feeders with large openings offer you to feed whole peanuts (peanuts in the shell).

WOODPECKER TRIVIA.   Downy Woodpeckers are the first bird to discover a new feeder.  Downies are not afraid of people, allowing you to approach closely.  When drumming, Woodpeckers strike a log 16-20 times per second.  Woodpeckers live 4-6 years in the wild.  Woodpeckers have extremely long tongues.  Most woodpeckers have 2 toes pointing forward and 2 toes pointing backwards,  Other birds have 3 toes pointing forwards and 1 toe pointing backwards.  Woodpeckers rarely will take a water bath.  Woodpeckers do not sing like songbirds,