The best bird feeder and seed for woodpeckers
Brace on their stiff tails. A suet feeder with a tail-prop extension suits the larger species (hairy, red-bellied, flicker, pileated). In hot weather switch from raw suet to no-melt suet dough; raw suet goes rancid and soft.
Which feeder types do woodpeckers use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tail-prop suet feeder | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | An extended board below the cage lets big woodpeckers brace on their tails the way they do on a trunk. |
| Suet cage | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | The simplest feeder there is. Hang on a trunk or pole. |
| Peanut mesh feeder | Shelled peanuts | Squirrels chew through soft mesh; use steel | Birds peck pieces through the mesh, which is safer for nestlings than whole kernels. |
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
Feeders woodpeckers use, budget to premium
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What seed do woodpeckers like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Suet and suet dough | Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. | Raw suet goes rancid above about 70 F; use no-melt dough in summer |
| Shelled peanuts | Raw or dry-roasted, never salted or flavoured. Use a mesh feeder so birds peck pieces rather than swallowing whole kernels in nesting season. | Keep dry and cool; mould is the risk |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
Food to buy for woodpeckers
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Where and when should you feed woodpeckers?
- Height and spot: 5 feet, or fixed to a trunk.
- When: Year round; suet use peaks in cold weather.
- Range: Downy, hairy and red-bellied across most of the East; many species nationwide.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Woodpeckers use nest boxes. See the Downy Woodpecker house dimensions: 4 x 4 inch floor, 1 1/4 in hole, mounted 5 to 20 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the woodpeckers feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for woodpeckers on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for woodpeckers?
A tail-prop suet feeder is the most reliable choice for woodpeckers. Brace on their stiff tails. A suet feeder with a tail-prop extension suits the larger species (hairy, red-bellied, flicker, pileated). Pair it with suet and suet dough, place it 5 feet, or fixed to a trunk, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a suet cage widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do woodpeckers eat at feeders?
In order of preference: suet and suet dough, shelled peanuts, black oil sunflower and sunflower hearts and chips. Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for woodpeckers?
5 feet, or fixed to a trunk. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so woodpeckers can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do woodpeckers come to feeders?
Year round; suet use peaks in cold weather. Range: Downy, hairy and red-bellied across most of the East; many species nationwide. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season woodpeckers are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do woodpeckers use birdhouses?
Yes. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 4 x 4 inch floor and a 1 1/4 in entrance, mounted 5 to 20 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.