Red-bellied woodpeckers are medium-sized birds that can be found across eastern North America. With their striking black and white plumage and bright red belly, these woodpeckers are a delightful sight in backyards and parks. But what exactly attracts these birds to specific areas? Here we will explore the habitat, food sources, and other factors that bring red-bellied woodpeckers to your neighborhood.
Preferred Habitat
Red-bellied woodpeckers prefer habitats with large trees, both living and dead. Mature forests, woodlots, orchards, and suburban yards with big trees tend to attract these birds. Specifically, they look for trees like oaks, hickories, maples, and pines. Large dead trees, known as snags, are also attractive to red-bellied woodpeckers as they offer cavities for nesting and roosting.
In addition to large trees, red-bellied woodpeckers like some kind of water source nearby such as a stream, pond, or swamp. Easy access to water allows them to bathe and drink regularly.
Structures such as wooden fence posts and utility poles can also attract red-bellied woodpeckers, as they offer convenient perches. Houses with wooden or cedar shake siding tend to draw in these birds too since the siding is easy to excavate for nesting cavities.
Some key habitat features that attract red-bellied woodpeckers include:
- Mature forests
- Woodlots
- Orchards
- Backyards with large trees
- Dead trees or snags
- Areas near streams, ponds, or swamps
- Wooden fence posts and utility poles
- Houses with wood or cedar shake siding
Food Sources
Red-bellied woodpeckers will flock to areas teeming with their favorite foods. These birds are omnivorous, feasting on insects, spiders, fruits, nuts, and seeds. By setting up feeders stocked with certain foods, you may be able to attract red-bellied woodpeckers to your yard.
Some key foods that red-bellied woodpeckers love include:
- Insects: beetles, ants, caterpillars, bees, wasps, flies
- Spiders
- Nuts: acorns, hickory nuts, pecans
- Fruits: wild grapes, dogwood berries, black cherry, poison ivy berries
- Seeds: sunflower, millet
- Suet
- Pieces of fruit: oranges, apples
- Mealworms
Setting up a feeding station with suet, sunflower seeds, and mealworms is a great way to try attracting red-bellied woodpeckers. Offering fruit pieces from halved oranges or apples is also recommended. Position the feeders near trees or wooden posts, as the birds will feel safer feeding in more open areas. Use specialty suet holders or mesh bags to offer suet.
Ideal Feeders for Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Here are some ideal bird feeder styles for attracting red-bellied woodpeckers:
- Suet feeders
- Hopper or platform feeders for sunflower seeds
- Tube feeders for live mealworms
- Fruit baskets mounted on poles or rails
- Small tray or platform feeders for suet nuggets, fruit
Nesting Sites
Providing optimal nesting habitat will encourage red-bellied woodpeckers to take up residence in your area. These birds nest in tree cavities excavated by the male woodpecker. Favorite nesting trees include dead trees, aspens, cottonwoods, willows, and birches. The nest holes are generally 10 to 30 feet above the ground.
You can encourage nesting by:
- Leaving dead and dying trees intact
- Installing nest boxes suitable for red-bellied woodpeckers on trees
- Allowing aspens, cottonwoods, willows, and birches to grow
Red-bellied woodpecker nest boxes should be about 9 x 9 x 18 inches in size with a 2-3 inch diameter entrance hole about 15-30 feet above ground. The box should be mounted on a tree trunk pointing south or east. Clean out old nesting material each year.
How to Attract Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Follow these tips to make your yard or property as attractive as possible to red-bellied woodpeckers:
- Plant acorn and nut producing trees like oaks, hickories, and pecan
- Allow dead trees and snags to remain intact
- Put up bird feeders stocked with suet, sunflower seeds, and mealworms
- Offer fruit pieces in small platform or mesh feeders
- Install nest boxes suited for red-bellied woodpeckers
- Provide a source of water like a birdbath or small pond
- Avoid removing dying, diseased, and dead trees
- Maintain areas of dense woods or forested sections
- Mulch areas under trees to encourage insect growth
Benefits of Attracting Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Attracting red-bellied woodpeckers to your yard or property has many benefits beyond simply enjoying their beauty. Here are some of the advantages of having red-bellied woodpeckers around:
- Help control insect populations, especially wood-boring beetles and caterpillars
- Pollinate plants as they feed on flower nectar and fruits
- Disperse seeds from nuts and fruits they feed on
- Excavate nesting cavities used by other birds after they leave
- Add color and activity to your landscape
- Fun to observe at bird feeders
By making a few simple habitat modifications and providing food sources, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of red-bellied woodpeckers on your property!
Conclusion
Red-bellied woodpeckers are drawn to areas with large trees, plentiful food sources like suet and seeds, and suitable nesting spots. Planting nut trees, putting up nest boxes, and setting up feeders with woodpecker-friendly foods can successfully attract them to your yard. Make sure to include dead trees and snags which these birds rely on for food and shelter. With a little effort, you can bring vibrant red-bellied woodpeckers closer to home.