Best Woodpecker Bird Feeders

View our list of the Best Woodpecker Bird Feeders available on the market today. These are ordered by popularity with the #1 best selling Woodpecker bird feeder listed at the top of our list.

Woodpeckers, family Picidae, are a family of birds known for pecking the side of trees with their long beaks to communicate and make holes in trees. They then nest inside the holes they created. Woodpeckers are birds that are watched for their hole drilling behavior and are both loved and hated for it.

Top 5 Best Woodpecker Bird Feeders

Buying A Woodpecker Feeder: Things To Consider

For a bird feeder to attract the woodpecker, it needs food and a comfortable space to perch. This means plenty of perching space, tail props, gripping skerfs, or platforms. The type of bird feeder used will depend on the diet you would feed a woodpecker.

Best Woodpecker Bird Feeders

• Suet Feeders – They are mesh or wire cages that can be nailed or tied to a tree. In the cage, there is a suet cake that can be reached by the bird’s beak.
• Platform Feeders – They consist of a tray that is either hanged or standing on a pole. They are used for seeds and are easy for the woodpecker to eat from, but have no protection from outside elements. The seeds on the platform feeder are vulnerable to the weather like rain and snow as well as squirrels.
• Window Feeders – They are plastic feeders that attach to windows through suction cups. They offer the best view of the woodpecker. However, birds feed by standing on the seeds, so the seeds need to be changed daily and the feeder kept clean.
• Tube Feeders – They are hollow tubes that can store a variety of feed like seeds, berries, and nuts. They are good for protecting the feed from outdoor hazards like squirrels and can hold a lot of birds.

The woodpecker, through its novel behavior, is a popular bird for many bird watchers. They are more than 180 species of the feathered creature around the world. As a result, the woodpecker species have different behaviors, diets, and ecological niches among each other. Building the best woodpecker bird feeders takes a lot of research and time for it to be successful in bringing the woodpecker to your backyard.

How To Attract Woodpeckers To Your Backyard

Woodpeckers belong to the Picidae bird family, which includes about 200 species. About twenty of those species live in North America. You will find these birds in a variety of habitats, such as farmlands, orchards, pine woods, gardens, and parks. Unlike birds that migrate, most woodpeckers live in the same area year-round. They will also eat insects and pests in your gardens such as ants, crickets, grasshoppers, spiders, wasps, and beetles.

You will commonly see these beautiful birds spiraling tree trunks, telegram pole, or other tall objects in search of food. The loud, drumming noises allow them to claim their territory and impress potential mates. Attracting birds to your backyard can be an enjoyable pastime.

The drumming sounds are produced by both male and female birds to attract mates and establish their territories. These birds can peck over 8,000 pecks per day. Since they eat bugs, nuts, sap, fruit, and seeds, they are often attracted to suet feeders or nut feeders. Occasionally, you can also offer them a small number of kitchen scraps.

North American Species

Of the two dozen species found in the United States, the downy is the most common. The most abundant species is the American ivory-billed. Other North American species include the pileated, northern flicker, yellow-shafted flicker, red-shafted flicker, yellow-bellied sapsucker, acorn, and the hairy.

To attract a woodpecker to come to your backyard, it is necessary to obtain the best woodpecker bird feeders. When buying a woodpecker bird feeder, it is important to consider a birdfeeder that fits their biology and diet as well as the specific woodpecker species you are trying to attract. Not all woodpecker species are built the same and the bird feeder needs to be compatible with the woodpecker as well as the environment for it to be successful.

Diet of the Woodpecker

One important thing to consider when buying a bird feeder is the woodpecker’s diet. The woodpecker, depending on the species, has a varied diet consisting of insects, berries, nuts, seeds, and sap. However, many of those foods are not very feasible to use in a bird feeder, which requires the use of alternatives.

Bird Feed to Use

• Fruits such as oranges, grapes, and apples are popular with the bird.
• Foods like peanuts, sunflower seeds, and mealworms are also attractive to them in their nutritional content.
• If fruit isn’t available, jellies in flavors like grape and apple make a good substitute.
• Another sort of feed that is nutritious and popular with the woodpecker is suet, which is animal fat.

Location of the Bird Feeder

To have a bird feeder, you need a place to hang a bird feeder. Areas to hang the best woodpecker bird feeders would be:

• Tree branches – A bird’s natural habitat and are a good option to hang a bird feeder. Good for bird feeders that make use of ropes, hooks, or cords.
• Windows – A good area to place a bird feeder if you want a close look at the birds from the comfort of your home. Good for bird feeders that use suction cups. However, this IS NOT a good type of bird feeder to use for attracting woodpeckers!
• On a flat surface – Can be an area like a deck or a patio. Good for deck hangers or platform feeders.
• Snag – The woodpecker like to drill into dead trees and create a home or nest from it. It is a good place to hang a bird feeder nearby.

Types of Habitats Where Woodpeckers Thrive

Creating the proper nesting places will help lure birds to your backyard. Because you are dealing with birds that are typically forest birds, you should place bird feeders as close to the thick trees as possible. It will help create trust between the birds and the bird watcher.

Some birds like to drum on telephone poles and tin roofs. Both males and females participate in drumming. Birds use hollow spaces for both roosting and nesting. Although both males and females attend to the eggs and the young, only the male bird spends the night in the nesting cavity.

As opposed to vocal songs, you will soon learn to recognize the chirps and chatters these birds make. Their signature sound is drumming noises on hollow trees, utility poles, chimneys, and other objects for more elaborate communications. They will also drum on objects that echo like metal roofs, rain gutters, and trash cans. The closer the birds are to you, the louder they sound.

Additional Ideas For Attracting Woodpeckers To Your Yard

Having knowledge of the habitats and what these birds like to eat will help you be able to attract them to your backyard along with buying the best woodpecker bird feeders. These birds like to eat mostly insects, but they will also eat berries, acorns, nuts, and pine seeds. Here are ten things you can do to help attract them to your backyard.

1. Plant oak trees because of the acorns.
2. Plant pine trees. They provide shelter as well as sap and pine seeds for food.
3. Plant fruit-producing trees and bushes. Birds like to feed on grapes, blueberries, and other fruit-bearing plants.
4. Offer suet in your backyard. You can smear suet in the bark of a tree or provide suet cakes in specially designed suet feeders.
5. Choose the perfect feeder. The right bird feeder will keep the birds making regular visits to your backyard.
6. Place a hummingbird feeder in your yard that has sugar water and ports large enough to accommodate the woodpecker’s large beaks.
7. Provide water. Placing a birdbath a few meters away attracts birds faster.
8. Provide plenty of perching space.
9. Create or preserve a snag in your backyard. A snag can be an old dead tree or tree stump. Snags provide food, nesting sites, and shelter.
10. Mount birdhouses around your yard.

Animals and birds are smart enough to know whether a yard is friendly or not. If you take the time to prepare your yard correctly, the birds will recognize it as a bird-friendly yard.

The Life Span of Woodpeckers

The average life span of a wild woodpecker can be anywhere from 4-12 years, depending on the species. Larger species can live up to 30 years in ideal conditions. Birds in captivity receiving proper nutrition, protection, and veterinary care may live even longer.

Threats to Woodpeckers

Several things can threaten these birds and prevent them from surviving.

• Urban development and increase in population – The biggest threat to birds is the loss of their natural habitat through urban development and population growth. The more wooded areas developers cut down to build houses decreases the number of places for the birds to dwell.
• Insecticides – Insecticides can be harsh to the environment and harmful to humans if misused. One unintended consequence of using insecticides is the elimination of the food source of the birds.
• Forest fires – Although humans often destroy the habitats of birds, that is not the only threat. Natural disasters, such as forest fires, destroy deadwood, thus eliminating the woodpecker habitats.
• Cats – In urban and suburban areas, cats can be a constant threat to birds as well. If there are many feral cats in the area, it compounds the problem.

If you create a safe bird-friendly environment that simulates their natural habitat, these birds will flock to your backyard. Include the right type of bird feeder to accommodate suet, buts, berries, and other foods that birds like to eat. Once you have transformed your backyard into the perfect environment for the Picidae bird family, you will have a birdwatcher’s paradise.

FAQs About Woodpeckers

Woodpeckers are beautiful birds to watch, but they are often reluctant to visit your yard. However, if you are an avid birder, you can still attract these by providing suitable feeds and a welcoming environment. Here are some replies to some FAQs about keeping a woodpecker around your yard after having bought the some of the best woodpecker bird feeders.

What Kind Of Seeds Do Woodpeckers Prefer?

A woodpecker prefers to feed worms and insects but will also feed on a variety of natural foods like berries and nuts, including crushed or whole peanuts. They will even eat pine seeds, acorns, cracked corn, and black oil sunflower seeds depending on the species and seasons.

An easy way to invite a woodpecker to in your backyard is to offer them fruits like oranges, apples, raisins, and grapes. You can also provide feeds like peanuts, mealworms, and suet. An excellent attractant is a mixed blend of feed. For example, give grape-flavored suet and surround it with berries, sunflower seeds, and peanuts.

You do not need feeders, just smear the peanut butter on tree trunks. Alternatively, you can buy a log feeder and put peanut butter in the predrilled holes for the birds to eat.

Should I Stop Feeding Woodpeckers During The Summer Or Winter?

Feeding during winter is potentially harmful to the woodpecker and other bird species. One of the observed risks is the change in the migratory behavior of birds which, now prefer to stay around for food than migrate. During this time of scarcity, the feeders attract unexpected species and bring birds together more frequently than usual.

When many birds gather to eat on your feeders, they create the ideal conditions for the development and spread of parasites to other birds. However, this does not mean that you stop feeding the woodpecker. Feeding the birds increases their chances of survival during the harsh period and improve their breeding success. There are easy strategies you can implement to avert the potential risks.

Provide natural food – Commercial birdseed mixtures pack a lot of filler that most birds eat and cause a lot of mess under the feeder. The mess can become sludgy and potentially cause disease to birds. To avert the problem, consider specific seeds or nuts for particular feeders and avoid mixing various seeds in a single feeder.

By providing food during winter, adult birds bring their young ones to the feeders where they can find an easy meal. You will have a woodpecker around your home all year.

Clean the feeders regularly – Clean the feeders from bird mess and leftovers. Scrub the feeders thoroughly using 10% non-chlorinated bleach several times a year and between seasons.

How Can I Keep Squirrels Off My Woodpecker Bird Feeders?

There is not a single method of keeping squirrels from your birdfeeders; you will need to combine several strategies. The first strategy utilizes the limits of the squirrel. A squirrel cannot jump a height of above 5 feet from the ground, is afraid to drop a fall of 9 feet from above to a feeder, and cannot jump to a platform 7 feet across. Consider these dimensions when installing your birdfeeder. Use a squirrel baffle to deter them from climbing up a pole that holds your birdfeeder.

Buy a squirrel proof birdfeeder, one that allows a woodpecker to access the feed, but keep it inaccessible to the squirrel. A weight-sensitive feeder is convenient. When a squirrel hurdles on to the feeder, the door closes, and the squirrel cannot access the food.

Squirrels are sensitive to the perceived heat caused by eating pepper. However, birds are unaffected by pepper. Consider treating the seeds and suet with pepper before setting them in the birdfeeders. Walk around and seal off shelters like attics, old sheds, and under eaves where squirrels can nest. Squirrels are less likely to visit if they live further away.

Should I Offer Woodpeckers Water Via A Birdbath?

A woodpecker is a shy bird and, it will prefer to drink and bathe in water points that are isolated with fewer visitors. The birds prefer a birdbath that looks more natural than the typical bird bathe. Consider having a more natural birdbath instead of the gaudy pedestals that attract other birds.

A ground birdbath with slow-moving water or a dripper will attract the attention of a woodpecker. Have a relatively shallow birdbath and locate it in a shaded and quiet spot where other birds rarely frequent. The area should have perches that make the birds more comfortable to visit the bath. A heated birdbath is especially excellent for the winter period during which the birds look for a natural source of natural water to endure the cold temperature.

Water is an essential part of your yard’s bird habitat. A woodpecker needs a continuous supply of clean water throughout the year, for drinking, preening, and bathing. As mentioned above, they are shy about birdbaths, and you need to encourage them by providing an ideal watering point. Provide a birdbath with a natural look located in an isolated location with little competition from other birds. You need to ensure the water remains clean or keep it flowing gently.

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