Tips for Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Yard

Discover how you can attract woodpeckers.

Backyard birdwatching is a fun activity for the whole family. You can learn about different species of birds, right in your own yard.

There are plenty of birds that will flock to your backyard, including woodpeckers. And there are many different types of woodpeckers you could attract. The most common types include Red Bellied Woodpeckers and Downy Woodpeckers.

Not only are woodpeckers beautiful and fun to watch, but they’re also great helpers in the garden. They love to eat up insects and grubs, which helps balance your garden.

There are a few things you can do to attract these unique birds to your yard. Just follow these tips from Blain’s Farm & Fleet.

Woodpecker Feed & Feeders

Woodpeckers enjoy a variety of food. Some of their favorites include nuts, berries, insects, and sap. You can also provide feed such as suet, peanuts, black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, and peanut butter.

For bird seed, be sure to use feeders that will support woodpeckers. Common feeders include suet feeder cages and platform feeders.

Woodpecker Water

Woodpeckers prefer watering spots that look natural and are more isolated than your typical bird bath. A ground bird bath or a small water source with moving water are both great options for woodpeckers.

Keep the water source away from other bird nesting sites to encourage the woodpeckers to use it.

A heated birdbath is also a great addition in the cold winter months.

Woodpecker Nesting & Shelter Sites

Woodpeckers love to make their nest in the right bird house or the cavity of a dead tree. If you plan on cutting down a dead tree, save part of the trunk as a nesting spot for woodpeckers.

These birds also like nesting boxes, which you should mount 10 to 20 feet high. The entrance hole should be big enough for the woodpeckers to fit through it.

There are plenty of ways to make your yard woodpecker-friendly. While these are the basic needs, you may need to add a little more to your lawn to bring in the birds.

A separate feeding and watering station will give these shy birds their own space away from noisy songbirds. You can place these near mature trees, preferably oak and pine trees.

Also make sure that bird seed and suet are fresh.

Using these simple tips and tricks can help you attract woodpeckers and other species of your favorite birds.

For more ideas and tips on wild birds, visit our Wild Birds & Bird Watching Blog.