As winter’s grip tightens across North America, our feathered friends face increasing challenges. While many birds migrate south, most kinds of woodpeckers remain year-round residents, adapting their behavior and diet to survive the harsh conditions.
These remarkable creatures switch from an insect-heavy diet to a more varied menu during colder months, demonstrating nature’s incredible adaptability. Here’s how you can help these fascinating birds thrive during winter.
1. Keep Those Feeders Full
High-energy foods become crucial for woodpeckers during winter months. Stock feeders with black oil sunflower seeds, whole peanuts, and suet cakes – woodpecker favorites that provide essential nutrients and fat reserves.
Platform and hopper-style feeders work best, allowing woodpeckers to land and feed comfortably. For optimal results, position feeders near tree trunks or wooded areas where these birds feel most secure.
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2. Maintain Heated Water Sources
Winter dehydration poses a serious threat to woodpeckers. Installing a heated birdbath keeps water from freezing and provides a reliable drinking source when natural water becomes scarce.
Position the bath in a quiet area of your property, keeping it clean without using soap. Adding a solar-powered bubbler can make it more attractive to woodpeckers while deterring mosquitoes.
3. Preserve Dead Trees
Dead trees, or snags, serve as natural feeding stations and shelter for woodpeckers. These birds prefer soft, decaying wood for both foraging and creating roosting cavities.
When safe to do so, leave standing dead trees in place. They not only provide crucial habitat but also host insects that woodpeckers rely on for sustenance.
4. Create Natural Food Sources
Native plants play a vital role in supporting winter woodpeckers. Oak trees, pines, and berry-producing shrubs like serviceberry and elderberry provide natural food sources throughout the cold season.
Consider planting coneflowers and black-eyed susans, which produce seeds that attract these birds. (ref) Native species ensure year-round sustenance for non-migratory woodpeckers.
5. Offer Live Mealworms
Mealworms provide essential protein when natural insects become scarce. These larvae help fill the nutritional void during winter months when woodpeckers struggle to find their usual insect prey.
Both live and freeze-dried mealworms can help woodpeckers maintain their protein intake without depleting energy reserves searching for food in freezing conditions.
6. Install Winter Roost Boxes
Woodpecker houses offer crucial shelter during cold nights. Mount these boxes 10 to 20 feet high, adding predator baffles to protect against raccoons and other threats.
While not all woodpecker species will use artificial houses, smaller varieties readily accept them for both nesting and winter roosting.
7. Maintain Brush Piles
Fallen wood and brush piles attract insects that woodpeckers feed on. These natural structures provide both food sources and protective cover during harsh weather.
Create dedicated woodpiles in quiet areas of your property, allowing them to decompose naturally and attract beneficial insects.
8. Plant Native Trees
A variety of native trees supports woodpecker populations. Focus on species like oaks, Eastern Red Cedar, and Mountain Ash, which provide both food and shelter.
Creating small thickets of mixed native trees offers extra protection during winter storms while ensuring diverse food sources.
9. Leave Garden Debris
Natural leaf litter and plant debris harbor insects and their eggs, providing essential winter foraging opportunities.
Resist the urge to over-clean garden areas in fall, as this natural debris becomes an important food source during winter months.
10. Protect from Predators
Position feeding stations and water sources near protective cover but away from areas where cats might hide. This arrangement allows quick escape routes while minimizing predation risk.
Ensure multiple escape routes are available by maintaining clear flight paths to nearby trees and shrubs.
Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.