How to Attract Woodpeckers: Easy Tips to Bring These Birds to Your Yard
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Time to read 11 min
Woodpeckers are a common and beloved group of birds, but they’re often overlooked when people think about their backyards. Many people put out seed to attract finches, sparrows, doves, and other common backyard birds, but few realize that woodpeckers are just as easy to attract.
It’s worth a little effort. There are multiple species of woodpeckers in America, and though they’re all different they share characteristics such as beautiful plumage and loud, charismatic vocalizations. This guide covers several easy, nature-friendly ways to bring woodpeckers to your yard.
Table of Contents
Why Woodpeckers Visit Certain Yards Types of Woodpeckers You Can Attract Choosing the Right Feeders and Placement Create a Woodpecker-Friendly Habitat Seasonal Tips for Attracting Woodpeckers Year-Round Common Mistakes to Avoid When Attracting Woodpeckers How to Stop Woodpeckers from Pecking Your House Final Thoughts: Enjoying Woodpeckers in Your Yard
Why Woodpeckers Visit Certain Yards
Downy Woodpecker clinging to a tree—our smallest and most common backyard woodpecker.
Woodpeckers are likely to visit your yard for the same reason that any bird is: for food and shelter. Getting a full belly is a woodpecker’s main priority all year round, and finding a safe place to lay eggs and raise their young is another goal in spring and summer. If your yard can provide a woodpecker’s needs for food and shelter, you’re likely to get them to visit.
Woodpeckers are different from other backyard birds, though, like finches and cardinals, in that they don’t really eat birdseed. Some species do eat seeds, especially sunflower seeds, but bird seed isn’t the most effective way of attracting them to your yard.
The best way to bring woodpeckers to your garden is to give them the food they really want: insects. Specifically, offer them trees that they can hammer into to extract the insects inside. Though it may not be evident just by looking, there are lots of insects living in trees. Some hang out in crannies in the bark, and others spend the early part of their lives as larvae living inside the trees. All those bugs are protein-filled snacks for any bird that can get to them. Insects are a key reason why woodpeckers peck wood!
Woodpeckers also nest in trees. They use their strong beaks to chisel holes in trees to give themselves a safe place to raise their young. Many woodpeckers prefer the softer wood from dead or diseased trees because it’s easier to hammer into.
So, because trees are essential for most woodpeckers to find food and shelter, having trees in your yard is the best way to attract woodpeckers. You can plant trees if you don’t have any (make sure you do some research to ensure that you’re planting trees native to your area, which will host more beneficial native insects), or you can make the effort to leave trees standing—especially dead ones—instead of cutting them to plant a grass-only yard. There are other ways to provide food for woodpeckers at your feeders, but nothing beats a yard full of trees.
Types of Woodpeckers You Can Attract
Scientists have organized woodpeckers into the family Picidae, which includes about 240 species around the world. About 22 of these species are found in the United States. Some of them are common and widespread, while others have limited ranges or live in remote areas. Some visit backyards more often than others. Below are some of the more common backyard woodpeckers.
Downy Woodpecker.
Male Downy Woodpecker perched on a branch, showing the species’ diminutive size and red head patch.
Our smallest and most numerous woodpecker, the Downy Woodpecker is found everywhere except for the most arid parts of the country. They’re small—about the size of your hand—and mostly all black and white. Males have a spot of red on the back of their head that females lack. Downys feed actively on all kinds and sizes of trees, and give a sort of squeaky “pik!” call and a descending, rattling whinny.
Hairy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker on a tree trunk—larger than the Downy, with a longer bill for probing bark.
Hairy Woodpeckers are also widespread and common across the United States and, frustratingly for many birders, look nearly identical to Downy Woodpeckers. The primary difference is that Hairy Woodpeckers are larger than Downy Woodpeckers. It’s clear to see when the two species are next to each other, but that rarely happens. The most useful identification tip for me is the length of the bill. A Downy’s Woodpecker’s bill barely peeks out past the feathers on its face, while a Hairy Woodpecker’s bill is much more pronounced, and about the same length as the width of its head.
Pileated Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker chiseling a trunk—our largest woodpecker, known for its bold red crest.
A truly impressive creature, the crow-sized Pileated Woodpecker may be one of the most recognizable birds in the country. Its range extends across the eastern half of the country and across Canada and down the Pacific coast. The bird is best identified by its massive size and its bright red crest.
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red‑bellied Woodpecker on a stump—its red cap and barred back stand out despite the subtle belly color.
A very common backyard woodpecker in the eastern United States, though its name is quite misleading. It does have a red wash between its legs, though it’s rarely visible unless you’re holding the bird in your hand. Instead, look for the black-and-white striped back, the creamy face and head, and the red stripe running from its cap down the back of its neck.
Acorn Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker on a lichen‑covered branch—this species stores acorns and lives in cooperative family groups.
This primarily Mexican species has a scattered range across the desert southwest and up the Pacific coast. They’re less common but quite memorable, both for their clown-makeup facial markings and their amazing habit of hammering thousands of acorns into the outside of dead trees.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Pair of Yellow‑bellied Sapsuckers. These birds drill neat rows of holes to feed on sap and insects.
Sapsuckers are a group of woodpeckers with different feeding strategies: instead of drilling deep into trees they cut shallow, precise holes in the outer layer of bark and feed on the sap (and insects) that collect there. Favored trees are readily identifiable by the pattern of holes left behind. There are four sapsucker species in the United States: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the east and across northern Canada, and Williamson’s, Red-naped, and Red-breasted in the mountain West.
Northern Flicker
Northern Flicker on a mossy branch—unlike most woodpeckers, this species often feeds on ants on the ground.
Flickers are a group of woodpeckers with yet another feeding style. Unlike other woodpeckers, flickers are often found on the ground, probing the earth with their bills to look for ants and other insects. Our most common species, the Northern Flicker, is divided into two subspecies readily told apart by the color of the feathers on the underside of their wings and at the base of their tails: red for birds in the western U.S. and yellow for eastern birds.
Choosing the Right Feeders and Placement
Native trees are the best ways to attract woodpeckers to your yard, but there are feeder options, too.
Suet is, by far, the best option for attracting woodpeckers to your bird feeder. Suet is rendered beef fat that’s packed into square bricks. It’s often sold in stores with things like nuts, mealworms, or dried fruit melted into the suet cake. Those are all readily eaten (though some sources recommend avoiding suet that contains sunflower seeds in their shells), but just plain suet works perfectly fine as well.
Suet is most often set out by placing the brick into a metal cage and hanging it from a tree. The cage contains the suet and prevents any one bird (or other critter) from taking too-large chunks away. There are many different styles of suet cage, and some come with a paddle-like “tail prop” which allows woodpeckers to brace their stiff tail feathers against it for support when feeding.
Take care when placing your feeder to keep the suet away from other animals. Suet is rich food, and, like bird seed, something that squirrels, raccoons, and other creatures want. Putting your suet atop a pole with a baffle, or otherwise hanging it in such a way that squirrels can’t get to it will help. Squirrels are smart, though, and hungry, so it may take some time to find the right set-up!
Downy Woodpecker on a suet cage—high‑energy suet feeders help attract woodpeckers.
Also, like bird seed, there are a few things you need to remember to make sure birds can eat it safely. Suet can melt in summer heat, and if the runny fat gets on a bird’s feathers it can damage them. Messy, soft suet may also not be a good food for young woodpeckers, who may get it on the feathers on their faces. Some people stop offering suet during the summer months, or bring it inside at night to keep it cool and safe from nocturnal critters. Another summer solution is to just offer smaller chunks of suet, making it less likely that a woodpecker’s body will come in contact.
Woodpeckers like other backyard foods, too. Peanuts—unsalted and in their shells—are a beloved treat. They’re often presented in special wire tube feeders. Peanuts are easy to handle and refill, but do result in quite a bit of mess underneath the feeders. Also, special care should be taken that peanuts don’t get wet, as they can host undesirable fungi.
Good old black oil sunflower seeds will work too. Unlike cardinals or finches with strong bills to crack open seeds, woodpeckers will usually select a seed from the feeder, stuff it into a crevice in the bark of a nearby tree, and hammer the seed open. Any type of black oil sunflower seed feeder may work here.
Finally, woodpeckers are known to eat fruit and drink nectar. I’ve seen several Red-bellied Woodpeckers eating at the orange halves I put out to attract orioles, and they will also eat a variety of sliced melon, grapes, bananas, and more. Some woodpeckers may readily drink hummingbird nectar out of hanging feeders (though contorting their bodies to reach the nectar is always a challenge).
Create a Woodpecker-Friendly Habitat
Giving woodpeckers the habitat they need will attract them better than anything at your feeder. That means planting native trees. It also means keeping dead trees standing. Dead trees may be an eyesore to humans but they’re a boon for woodpeckers, giving them soft wood to nest in and to hunt for insects.
All the other things you can do to make your yard a welcoming habitat for birds will also benefit woodpeckers. Bird baths and other water features provide woodpeckers with hydration. Keeping your yard free from pesticides helps keep birds safe, as well as making sure cats are kept safely indoors.
Seasonal Tips for Attracting Woodpeckers Year-Round
Downy Woodpecker perched in the yard—these birds stay year‑round, so vary feeders seasonally.
Each season provides new ways to attract woodpeckers.
- Spring: Now is the time to keep an eye out for migratory woodpeckers returning from the south. Look for returning sapsuckers, flickers, and other types.
- Summer: If you’ve planted native trees in your yard or kept others growing, now is the time to look for woodpeckers nesting in cavities and hammering trunks in search of insects.
- Fall: Now is the time to plant the native trees your woodpeckers will enjoy next year! Putting out extra feeders in fall will help feed hungry migrant birds (and a crop of young birds migrating for the first time).
- Winter: The perfect season to put out supplemental food for woodpeckers, including suet, peanuts, and black oil sunflower.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Attracting Woodpeckers
Raccoon raiding a suet feeder—secure your feeders to keep mammals like raccoons from emptying them.
The biggest mistake you can make when trying to attract woodpeckers is getting rid of trees. Lawns are not an attractive habitat for these birds (they’re not called grasspeckers, after all). Keep live and dead trees standing, and plant native trees!
There are a few mistakes possible with attracting woodpeckers to feeders. Make sure suet and peanuts don’t sit out too long in the heat, as they could become unpalatable or dangerous. Also, make sure your suet cage is secured to a tree and out of reach of squirrels and raccoons, who may be able to open the cage and steal the whole suet cake if they can reach it.
How to Stop Woodpeckers from Pecking Your House
A common complaint about woodpeckers, especially in spring and summer, is that they hammer on the side of your house. This can be annoying at best, and at worst can cause damage to your home.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there are four reasons woodpeckers will bang on your house:
- They’re trying to make a loud noise to proclaim their territory or attract a mate
- They’re trying to excavate a nest hole
- They’re looking for insects in the siding
- They’re storing food in your siding
Homes with grooved wooden siding are more often targeted, according to Cornell, as well as those painted or stained in earth tones rather than bright colors.
Researchers have not found a fool-proof method for getting woodpeckers to leave your house alone. They have found that hanging reflective streamers from the house worked best. The streamers move in the wind and seem to cause woodpeckers to want to look elsewhere. But even those were not entirely successful. Many homeowners learn to coexist with their noisy woodpecker neighbors and ride out the temporary annoyance!
Final Thoughts: Enjoying Woodpeckers in Your Yard
Red‑bellied Woodpecker clinging to a trunk—inviting woodpeckers brings life and sound to your yard.
Woodpeckers are fantastic, personality-filled birds that are worth attracting to your yard. Each corner of the country has several species to seek out and enjoy. Providing and maintaining appropriate habitat is the best way to attract woodpeckers, and that means planting native trees and keeping them up.
But even yards with few or no trees can enjoy woodpeckers. Start small by adding a suet cage, a good bet for attracting woodpeckers and a host of other birds to your yard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What attracts woodpeckers to your yard?
The presence of insects found in native trees, as well as supplemental foods like suet and peanuts.
What time of day are woodpeckers most active?
Woodpeckers are active throughout the daylight hours, but are typically inactive at night.
What are woodpeckers' favorite food?
The larvae of wood-boring beetles, dug out of trees.
Where is the best place to put a woodpecker feeder?
Anywhere that’s safe from squirrels, raccoons, and other hungry critters. That usually means not putting the feeder right on a tree, but usually on a pole protected by a baffle.
What is the best bird feeder to attract woodpeckers?
Several types of metal suet cage are ideal for serving woodpeckers the high-energy food they crave. Look for one with a tail prop so woodpeckers and brace their stiff tails against it.
