How do you appeal to woodpeckers to your yard?
This query is extremely widespread, particularly in case you are new to fowl feeding. Woodpeckers usually are not solely stunning, however they’re extremely distinctive and a ton of enjoyable to look at.
And fortunately, nearly irrespective of the place you reside, a number of woodpecker species may be discovered.
Immediately, I’m going to show you 6 suggestions PROVEN to draw woodpeckers.
And the most effective half is that you may implement a few of these methods (similar to suggestions #1, #2, #6) immediately. Critically, if you happen to act on what I’m about to inform you, it’s doable to have woodpeckers in your yard inside hours!
I like attracting woodpeckers! In the event you’re fortunate, chances are you’ll even be capable to see one proper now on my feeders. Simply press play beneath to look at my LIVE cam! 😊
Tip #1: Appeal to Woodpeckers By Offering THESE Meals!
The BEST and EASIEST method to begin getting woodpeckers to return to your yard is to be sure to are providing meals that they LOVE to eat.
So, in no explicit order, here’s a listing of the meals it is advisable to provide in your yard buffet.
A. Peanuts:
Peanuts are an incredible meals to supply at your feeding station. Not solely do woodpeckers love consuming them, however they’re wholesome and supply a big quantity of fats and protein, each of that are vital to birds, particularly throughout chilly winter months.
You should utilize both shelled or unshelled peanuts. Simply be sure to don’t purchase SALTED peanuts.
*Diet Data: 49% fats, 26% protein, 19% carbohydrates
B. Sunflower Seeds:
Most woodpecker species will readily eat sunflower seeds, particularly in winter. You should utilize any kind of sunflower seeds (black oil or striped), and it doesn’t matter whether or not it’s in or out of the shell.
One of many BEST components about sunflower seeds is that they appeal to the widest quantity of birds versus another meals. Critically, you possibly can count on cardinals, jays, nuthatches, titmice, chickadees, grosbeaks, finches, nutcrackers, juncos, sparrows, blackbirds, doves, and grackles, along with woodpeckers!
*Diet Data: 40% fats, 16% protein, 20% carbohydrates
C. Mealworms:
Due to their excessive fats and protein content material, providing mealworms at your feeding station is a wholesome deal with for a lot of yard birds, together with woodpeckers.
Actually, consuming mealworms comes naturally to woodpeckers since they love consuming bugs.
There are two methods to buy mealworms:
Reside:
Utilizing dwelling mealworms just isn’t as gross as it might sound. They aren’t slimy or saved within the grime. Whenever you buy mealworms which can be alive, they sometimes are available in a small, plastic container and are saved in your fridge, the place they go dormant and may survive for a couple of months!
*Diet Data: 22% fats, 18% protein, 2.5% carbohydrates View $ on Amazon
Dried:
Shopping for dried mealworms is much less trouble than preserving dwell mealworms in your fridge! For instance, you should buy 5 kilos of them on Amazon for a comparatively low price.
*Diet Data: 32% fats, 49% protein, 6.9% carbs View $ on Amazon
Woodpeckers desire consuming dwell mealworms and should even reject dried mealworms at first. If this occurs, chances are you’ll want to mix each varieties to slowly introduce dried mealworms. Personally, it’s way more handy to maintain a giant pouch of dried mealworms in my shed than having dwelling ones in my fridge!
D. Suet:
The most well-liked and generally supplied meals that’s supplied to woodpeckers is suet.
My guess is that you’ve got seen suet muffins earlier than, as they’re generally bought nearly in every single place, together with grocery, {hardware}, and even pet shops. The usual suet cake dimension is about 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) lengthy and large and 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters) deep. You’ll be able to see an image of 1 beneath:
So what precisely is in suet?
Effectively, normally, the time period suet refers back to the kidney fats discovered on animals. Many birds, similar to woodpeckers, get pleasure from consuming this fats as a result of it supplies them with important vitality and diet.
Whereas the suet muffins you see bought in shops do comprise some precise suet, they nearly all the time have numerous different meals combined inside. It’s widespread to seek out peanuts, sunflower, dried fruit, tree nuts, and corn combined with the suet.
For instance, listed below are the substances of a suet cake that I just lately bought.
There isn’t a denying that woodpeckers LOVE suet. For my part, there isn’t a higher meals to make use of to draw these fantastic birds.
And whereas sq. muffins are the preferred form, suet additionally comes within the following varieties:
- A. Balls: Roughly the dimensions of tennis balls that slot in many sorts of caged feeders.
- B. Nuggets: Usually barely smaller than marbles. Nuggets additionally may be put in mesh feeders or on tray feeders.
- C. Plugs: Resemble a small log. These match into suet feeders which can be specifically made to suit suet plugs. Suet plug feeders are sometimes vertical and resemble the facet of a tree.
One final tip relating to suet:
I’ve had the most effective luck with suet that doesn’t comprise corn or another grains.
Woodpeckers desire suet with meals like peanuts, sunflower seeds, and tree nuts combined inside as an alternative of grains.
Tip #2: Use certainly one of these woodpecker-friendly feeders!
Now that we all know the sorts of meals that woodpeckers can’t resist, it’s time to study in regards to the fowl feeders it is advisable to provide these meals!
Truthfully, there are lots of of fowl feeders you can use. However for the sake of brevity, I’m solely going to indicate you a couple of examples of feeders that I personal and WHY that individual type is sweet for woodpeckers.
A. Suet Cake Feeders:
- A. Stokes Suet Cage: Tremendous cheap and works nice. It may be hung nearly anyplace.
A feeder that may match the usual suet cake is the gold normal for woodpecker feeders. They’re sometimes characterised by having some kind of metallic cage that the suet cake slips inside.
Woodpeckers can simply seize onto the perimeters and use their highly effective beaks to chip away on the scrumptious suet.
You’ll be able to even buy INVERTED suet cake feeders, which require woodpeckers to eat whereas hanging the other way up.
Woodpeckers haven’t any downside feeding this manner, however “bully” birds, like European Starlings, have bother!
B. Mesh Tube Feeder:
This fowl feeder is extraordinarily versatile when attracting woodpeckers as a result of many several types of meals may be positioned inside. Suet balls, suet pellets, and peanuts all match with no issues! View Immediately’s Worth!
The wire mesh is nicely suited to woodpeckers. They haven’t any downside hanging off the facet and becoming their pointy beaks inside. However many different birds can’t grasp onto the edges since there isn’t a perch or match their beak between the wire mesh!
C. Vertical Logs That Use Suet Plugs:
So far as aesthetics go, this woodpecker feeder is my favourite. I like how the log mimics the feel and appear of how woodpeckers feed naturally on timber.
To make use of this feeder, you will have to purchase suet plugs and insert them into the holes within the sides.
D. Hoppers, Tube Feeders, and Trays:
Not one of the above feeders are specifically designed for woodpeckers.
BUT, so long as most of these feeders are full of some mixture of sunflower seeds, suet, mealworms, or peanuts, it’s solely doable you possibly can see a woodpecker feeding on one. I do know that I’ve!
Truthfully, you by no means know what actual feeder a woodpecker will land on to attempt to eat from. I’ve even seen them sampling jelly and oranges from my oriole feeders and slurping up hummingbird nectar!
Tip #3: Present timber, timber, and extra timber!
There isn’t a getting round the truth that woodpeckers LOVE timber. The very first thing most individuals take into consideration in terms of woodpeckers is one drumming in opposition to a tree!
They use them for shelter, nesting, show, and meals. Sadly, if you happen to dwell in an enormous area devoid of timber, it’s going to be laborious to draw woodpeckers.
Now I do know that out of the blue making a mature forest of native timber just isn’t doable. But it surely’s by no means too late to begin planting extra timber in your yard.
And as they are saying:
The perfect time to plant a tree was 30 years in the past. The second finest time is TODAY! 😊
Tip #4: Don’t minimize down any lifeless timber!
When most individuals see a lifeless tree, they assume it’s an eye-sore that must be minimize down.
However when a woodpecker sees a lifeless tree, they assume they’ve received the lottery!
First, lifeless timber are an unbelievable meals supply. They’re normally full of beetle larvae and different bugs that woodpeckers can feast upon.
Second, since lifeless timber are sometimes simpler to bore into, woodpeckers use them to construct nests. You see, woodpeckers don’t use conventional nests that sit out within the open on a tree department.
No, woodpeckers are CAVITY nesters, which implies they make holes in timber which can be fully enclosed apart from the doorway. With out lifeless timber, they’ve a a lot more durable time discovering a spot to construct a nest.
As well as, many different birds are cavity nesters, however they can not make their very own cavities. Bluebirds, for instance, depend on outdated woodpecker holes for his or her nests.
So subsequent time you have got a lifeless tree in your yard, please assume twice earlier than chopping it down. 😊
Tip #5: Set up nest packing containers to encourage child woodpeckers!
Within the earlier tip (#4), we discovered about how woodpeckers ONLY use nest cavities for breeding functions and why lifeless timber are vital.
Effectively, what if you happen to don’t have any lifeless timber appropriate for nesting woodpeckers in your yard?
Fortunately, there’s a simple answer.
Most sorts of woodpeckers will readily use synthetic nest packing containers to construct their nests inside! By placing up applicable nest packing containers in your yard, you not solely can appeal to woodpeckers but additionally watch their infants.
However all nest packing containers usually are not created equal. Particularly, you need to take note of the diameter of the doorway gap, as this dictates what species can use the nest field.
Listed below are some entrance gap diameter pointers to comply with for some widespread woodpecker species:
- Downy Woodpecker: 1.25 inches
- Furry Woodpecker: 1.5 inches
- Pileated Woodpecker: 3 x 4-inch oval
- Crimson-bellied Woodpecker: 2.5 inches
Lastly, listed below are a couple of pre-made woodpecker nest packing containers you should buy.
A. Downy Woodpecker Nest Field
B. Coveside Three Woodpeckers Home
And in case you are useful, it’s additionally simple to make your personal. Simply Google “DIY woodpecker nest field,” and loads of choices will present up!
Tip #6: Appeal to woodpeckers by offering water!
The ultimate method to get woodpeckers to go to your yard is to supply a continuing, constant water supply.
So, how precisely do you accomplish this?
Effectively, until you’re fortunate sufficient to have a stream or lake close by, one of the simplest ways to supply water is to purchase a fowl tub.
Truthfully, there was a time after I didn’t assume having a fowl tub was that vital, particularly since they require a little bit of upkeep to maintain them contemporary and clear.
However as soon as I lastly tried a fowl tub, my opinion modified ceaselessly. Birds LOVE having a protected, clear water supply. And the most effective half is that fowl baths appeal to not solely woodpeckers but additionally numerous different species, together with many birds that sometimes don’t go to fowl feeders.
Critically, try this video of a Crimson-shouldered Hawk at my fowl tub!
Relating to fowl baths, there are HUNDREDS of choices, together with many alternative types. To assist information your resolution, listed below are a couple of further articles that may assist.
Do you have got any further suggestions for attracting woodpeckers?
Immediately, I supplied a number of methods you should use to draw these entertaining birds to your yard. We talked about the most effective meals and feeders, together with methods to make the encompassing habitat interesting.
I’d like to know what methods have labored finest for you?
Please go away a remark beneath, together with the precise woodpecker species you have got been in a position to appeal to!
