Woodpeckers abundantly thrive in nearly every corner of North America, and it’s easy to know if you have one near by. Named because of their constant pecking of wood, they use their noisy drumming to communicate with other birds and to thump their next meal of wood-boring insects out of the tree. Attracting them to your yard can be a rewarding experience as they are perky energetic birds who help to rid our gardens of harmful insects.
There are several different types of woodpeckers in existence, but generally three that are seen most commonly by backyard enthusiasts. The Downy woodpecker averages about 6 inches with a white belly and back, black wings with white spots, and a black and white masked face. The male is identified by the red at the back of the head, which the female lacks. The Hairy woodpecker is slightly larger with an average total length of 9 inches. He looks very similar to the Downy woodpecker, but has a longer beak. Again, the male has small red patch at the back of the head and the female does not. Lastly is the Pileated woodpecker, which is the largest woodpecker and generally has a total length of 18-24 inches. This type of woodpecker is mostly black with a small amount of white markings on the face. Most obvious about the Pileated woodpecker is the bright red triangular tuft on top of its head. Both male and female have this red marking, however males have additional red markings near their bill.
To attract these lively birds, it is important to understand their feeding habits. A woodpecker’s diet consists mainly of insects, but they also feed on fruits, berries, nuts and acorns. In a birdfeeder situation, however, they are very fond of black oil sunflower seeds and suet. Black oil sunflower seeds (not striped sunflower seeds) are best offered to a woodpecker on a platform feeder, as it gives them ample space to feed. Suet, on the other hand, can be fed in several different ways – a wire cage, a nylon mesh bag, or simply smeared on a tree they frequently visit. Birdwatchers that enjoy the presence of woodpeckers can also offer grapes, raisins, or peanuts and find great success in doing so.
Housing is important to a woodpecker, as most woodpeckers remain central to their original area and do not migrate a great distance when the weather changes. They prefer to make their homes and nests in dead and decaying trees, but sometimes these conditions are not available. For this reason, another great way to attract woodpeckers to your backyard is to build and install woodpecker houses. Houses (also called “boxes”) should be hung 15-25 feet above ground, preferably on a tree. The dimensions of your woodpecker house will depend on what type of woodpeckers you have in your area, but can be easily built and are rewarding when put to use.
Woodpeckers are beneficial birds that rid our gardens of insect pests, and provide entertainment while they drum away at the trees. By educating yourself about the habits of woodpeckers, you can easily learn the best ways to attract them to your home.
