What Do Woodpeckers Eat? 10 Most Common Foods
What do woodpeckers eat? This is a common question for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike. Known for their distinctive feeding habits, woodpeckers pound at trees with their powerful beaks in quest of insects and other food sources.
Generally speaking, woodpeckers eat insects, bugs, and wood-boring beetle larvae.
They consume seeds, nuts, berries, and other fruits in the winter when there are fewer insects.
They even drink tree sap and honey in the summer to ward off the hottest temperatures.
Termites, ants, beetles, caterpillars, and other insects are among the main prey items for woodpeckers. They also consume spiders, earthworms, and occasionally small reptiles or mammals. In addition to insects, woodpeckers will also eat fruits and nuts when available.
Species and habitat can have an impact on a woodpecker’s particular diet. Some woodpeckers have adapted to feed on sap from trees by drilling holes into the bark or using their tongue to extract the sticky substance.
Woodpecker Diet and Food Sources
Woodpeckers are fascinating creatures that are known for their distinctive pecking sounds and impressive drilling abilities. These birds are distinct from other species due to their unusual diet, which consists mostly of insects discovered in trees. But what exactly do woodpeckers eat?
The type of woodpecker and the area in which it lives will determine the answer to this query. Some species prefer to feed on ants, while others seek out beetle larvae or termites. Woodpeckers also consume berries, nuts, and fruits when these food sources are available.
During the winter months when insects become scarce, some woodpeckers will switch to feeding on seeds and suet offered by humans through bird feeders. Overall, the varied diet of woodpeckers enables them to adjust to shifting environmental conditions all through the year.
Suet, insects, peanuts, peanut butter, black oil sunflower seeds, nectar, sap, acorns, and other items are among the most popular foods.
1. Insects
Woodpeckers are a fascinating group of birds, known for their unique behavior of pecking and drilling into trees. But have you ever wondered what do woodpeckers eat? Woodpeckers have a specialized diet that primarily consists of insects. In fact, insects including ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders make up as much as 90% of their diet.
Woodpeckers use their strong beaks to drill holes in trees where they can find their prey. They also use their long tongues to extract the insects from inside the tree bark. Some woodpecker species even feed on sap or fruit in addition to insects. They can find food in difficult-to-reach locations because to their ability to cling to vertical surfaces with their razor-sharp claws.
It’s interesting to note that woodpeckers are crucial for managing insect populations in forests and other environments.
2. Suet
One food item that woodpeckers love to consume is suet. Suet is a high-energy food made from animal fat and is often used as bird food.
Suet provides woodpeckers with the necessary calories and nutrients they need to survive during the winter months when other foods are scarce. It’s a great source of protein, which aids in muscle growth and maintenance. Additionally, suet contains essential fatty acids that are important for maintaining healthy feathers.
Offering suet in a feeder is a great technique to entice woodpeckers to your yard or garden.
3. Peanuts
There is one food item that stands out in the woodpecker’s diet – peanuts!
Peanuts are a highly nutritious food source for woodpeckers. They contain plenty of protein and fat, which provide these birds the energy they need to soar from tree to tree and dig their nests. Woodpeckers also love peanuts because they can easily shell them with their strong beaks.
If you want to attract woodpeckers to your backyard, consider putting out some peanuts for them. You can sprinkle them on the ground or put them in a feeder. Just be sure to choose unsalted peanuts and avoid any that may have gone bad or moldy.
4. Peanut Butter
Peanut butter is one food that attracts woodpeckers in particular. Many bird lovers often wonder if it is safe to feed woodpeckers peanut butter and what benefits it brings to their diet.
For woodpeckers, peanut butter is a fantastic source of protein and good lipids. It can be easily spread on tree bark or placed in bird feeders for the birds to enjoy. Woodpeckers also love the texture of peanut butter as they can cling onto tree trunks and nibble away at it with ease. In addition, peanut butter contains essential vitamins such as vitamin E and magnesium which provides energy for the birds throughout the day.
5. Black Oil Sunflower Seeds
Black oil sunflower seeds are a favorite food item for many species of woodpeckers. These seeds are a fantastic source of nutrition for the birds because they are high in protein and oil. In fact, black oil sunflower seeds are so popular among woodpeckers that many bird feeders use them to attract these beautiful birds into their backyards.
The reason why woodpeckers love black oil sunflower seeds is because they are easy to crack open with their strong bills.
6. Acorn
Acorns are a favorite diet of woodpeckers. Acorns are the fruit of oak trees and are rich in nutrients that woodpeckers need to stay healthy. Protein, fat, carbs, vitamins B and E, as well as minerals like calcium and potassium, are all present in them.
Woodpeckers use their strong beaks to crack open the tough outer shell of acorns. Once they break through the hard exterior, they eat the nutritious inner kernel inside. They also use their beaks to drill holes into trees where they store acorns for later consumption. In order to have adequate food for the winter, certain species of woodpeckers store thousands of acorns in their holes.
7. Fruits
The woodpecker consumes a lot of fruits, especially in the summer when they are in season and plentiful.
Berries, grapes, apples, pears, and other fruits are among the many fruits that woodpeckers will eat. They will even feed on tree sap that oozes from fresh wounds in trees.
The high sugar content found in fruits makes them an excellent source of energy for the woodpecker as they require a lot of energy to maintain their active lifestyle. Additionally, fruits provide essential vitamins and minerals necessary for good health.
8. Fruit Jelly
Fruit jelly is a sweet and sticky snack that is popular among many bird species. However, it was not until recently that researchers discovered some woodpecker species were also indulging in this tasty treat.
This behavior has been hypothesized to be an adaptation to urban settings where natural food sources may be limited as a result of habitat degradation or pollution.
When they are available, woodpeckers also eat a variety of fruits such apples, berries, and grapes in addition to fruit jelly.
9. Nectar
One interesting aspect of the woodpecker diet is nectar. While many people associate nectar primarily with hummingbirds, some species of woodpeckers also consume this sweet substance.
In fact, nectar is known to be a common food source for a number of different species of woodpeckers. These birds reach deep into flowers and other sources of nectar with their long tongues, and utilizing the small hairs on the tip of their tongue, they can extract the sweet liquid. This enables individuals to add extra sources of energy and nutrients to their diet that might not be present in other foods.
10. Sap
Sap is one of the most crucial elements of a woodpecker’s diet.
A woodpecker’s diet throughout specific seasons of the year must include sap. A substantial amount of a woodpecker’s diet consists of insects, however many species rely on sap as a substitute source of energy and nutrients during the chilly winter months when insects are sparse or inactive.
By making small holes in the bark of trees with their beaks and licking the sap off with their long tongues, woodpeckers can obtain sap from trees.
Woodpecker Diet By Types
| Name | Scientific Name | Common Diet |
| 1.Downy Woodpeckers | Dryobates Pubescens | Black Oil Sunflower Seeds, Millet, Peanuts, and Chunky Peanut Butter |
| 2. Hairy Woodpeckers | Dryobates Villosus | Wood-boring beetles, ants, bees, wasps, caterpillars, spiders, crickets, and grasshoppers. |
| 3. Northern Flickers | Colaptes Auratus | Ants, beetles, fruits, seeds, and larvae |
| 4. Pileated Woodpeckers | Dryocopus Pileatus | Carpenter ants, wood-boring beetle larvae, fruits, nuts, and berries |
| 5. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers | Melanerpes Carolinus | Fruits, nuts, seeds, berries, tree sap, arboreal arthropods and invertebrates |
| 6. Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers | Sphyrapicus Varius | Tree sap, fruits, nuts berries, and sometimes arthropods |
| 7. Red-Headed Woodpeckers | Melanerpes Erythrocephalus | Suet, seeds, acorns, beechnuts, pecans, and various fruits and berries |
| 8. Lewis Woodpeckers | Melanerpes Lewis | Insects, nuts, fruits, and acorns |
| 9. White Woodpeckers | Melanerpes Candidus | Seeds, Fruits, and Insects |
| 10. Red-Breasted Sapsuckers | Sphyrapicus Ruber | Sap, fruits, and arthropods |
1. Downy Woodpeckers
One of the most prevalent species of woodpeckers in North America is the downy. Insects, nuts, and seeds are all part of this little bird’s diversified diet.
The Downy Woodpecker’s primary food source is insects such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. They use their strong beaks to peck into trees to find their prey.
In addition to insects, Downy Woodpeckers also enjoy eating nuts and seeds. They often visit bird feeders to snack on sunflower seeds or suet cakes. They can also be seen foraging on the ground for fallen nuts like acorns or hickory nuts.
Interestingly, Downy Woodpeckers have a unique feeding technique called “drumming.” This involves tapping their beaks against trees to create a sound that attracts insects hiding inside.
2. Hairy Woodpeckers
Beetles, ants, caterpillars, spiders, and other insects make up the hairy woodpecker’s main diet. Also, they enjoy consuming seeds, nuts, and fruits. In fact, during the autumn when food is plentiful, they have been found to stockpile acorns in tree cracks.
Hairy woodpeckers are opportunistic feeders, as opposed to other bird species that depend largely on a single food supply all year long. They will switch up their diet depending on what foods are available during different seasons.
3. Northern Flickers
The Northern Flicker’s diet consists mainly of insects and larvae, which they obtain by pecking and drilling into trees. They also eat berries, fruits, nuts, seeds, and occasionally small reptiles or mammals. Unlike other woodpeckers, Northern Flickers do not have stiff tail feathers that support them while climbing vertical surfaces. Instead, they rely on their strong feet to grip onto tree trunks while feeding.
Interestingly enough, Northern Flickers have been known to feed on ants in order to detoxify themselves from consuming poisonous berries.
4. Pileated Woodpeckers
Pileated woodpeckers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, nuts, and seeds. They are common in North American woodlands, where they spend the majority of their time looking for food. Insects are one of the main food sources for pileated woodpeckers.
These birds dig holes in trees using their large beaks to collect microscopic invertebrates such as termites, ants, and beetles. They also use their sharp beaks to pry off bark from trees to get at the insects underneath. In addition to insects, pileated woodpeckers also eat fruits such as berries and wild grapes when they are available.
5. Red-Bellied Woodpeckers
Red-bellied woodpeckers are widespread birds that inhabit a variety of environments, including residential yards, forests, and woodlands. These birds consume a varied diet that changes seasonally. They have a reputation for eating seeds, nuts, fruits, and insects.
Red-bellied woodpeckers mostly eat insects like beetles, ants, caterpillars, and spiders throughout the spring and summer. They use their sharp bills to pry open bark and probe into crevices to find hidden prey. Insects provide them with essential proteins that help them maintain their energy levels during nesting season.
In the fall and winter seasons when insects become scarce or dormant due to cold temperatures, red-bellied woodpeckers switch their diets to fruits and nuts.
6. Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers have a varied diet that includes insects, fruits, seeds, and sap from trees. Their preference for certain foods changes depending on the season and availability of food sources.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers primarily eat insects including beetles, ants, and caterpillars throughout the summer. They use their sharp beaks to dig into tree bark to reach their prey. In fall and winter when insects become scarce, they turn to fruits such as berries and crabapples to sustain themselves.
Yellow-bellied sapsuckers are also known for their love of sap from trees. They drill small holes in tree trunks to create wells where sap can accumulate.
7. Red-Headed Woodpeckers
The omnivorous Red-Headed Woodpecker consumes both plants and animals.
The diet of the red-headed woodpecker consists largely of insects. They use their sharp beaks to drill into trees to access ants, beetles, and other insects living within the bark. They also catch insects mid-air using their agile flying skills. R ed-headed woodpeckers like to consume tree sap, which is discovered by making holes in tree bark.
Although their main dietary source is insects, these birds also eat fruits and nuts. In the summer, when they are in season, they have been observed eating wild berries like raspberries and blackberries.
8. Lewis Woodpeckers
During summer, the Lewis Woodpecker feeds on insects such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, and grasshoppers. They have also been observed eating grapes, elderberries, wild cherries, and the berries of other plants. During winter when insects are scarce or inactive due to low temperatures or snowfall, these woodpeckers feed on nuts like acorns and hazelnuts which they store in tree cavities during autumn months.
9. White Woodpeckers
The diet of white woodpeckers primarily consists of insects, larvae, nuts, berries, and seeds. They are known to eat microscopic insects such as caterpillars, termites, ants, beetles, and bees that they discover under the bark of trees. Long tongues enable white woodpeckers reach deep into cracks where they can discover their meal.
Apart from insects and larvae, white woodpeckers also feed on nuts like acorns and hazelnuts.
10. Red-Breasted Sapsuckers
The Red-breasted Sapsucker is a fascinating bird known for its unique diet. This species, which belongs to the woodpecker family, eats a variety of insects, fruits, and tree sap. They are found in western North America and can be identified by their striking red head and breast.
One of the primary food sources for Red-breasted Sapsuckers is tree sap. They drill small holes in the bark of trees to create wells that collect sap, which they then lap up with their brush-like tongues. This behavior not only provides them with an energy-rich food source but also attracts insects that feed on the sap, creating an additional food source for these birds.
In addition to tree sap, Red-breasted Sapsuckers also consume insects such as ants, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders.
What Woodpeckers Eat Depending on Various Seasons
Woodpeckers are fascinating birds known for their unique feeding behaviors. Depending on the season and the kind of wood they live in, they have a varied diet.
In the Spring:
During the spring, woodpeckers shift their diet to accommodate the changing environment and available food sources. A woodpecker’s diet consists primarily of insects, which are more plentiful in the spring when temperatures rise.
Woodpeckers take advantage of this new growth by eating on tree sap when trees begin to bud and flowers bloom. This sticky substance is rich in sugar and provides an excellent source of energy for these energetic birds. Additionally, woodpeckers can also be spotted digging deep into softwood trees like pine or cedar to search for insects hiding beneath the bark.
In addition to insect larvae, woodpeckers also consume fruit in the spring season. As fruits start ripening on trees and shrubs, woodpeckers will often feed on them as well.
In the Late Spring and Summer:
These birds have a diversified diet that varies with the season throughout the late spring and summer. Woodpeckers primarily feed on insects, which they locate by tapping on trees and listening for movement inside. In this season, they also consume fruit, nuts, seeds, and sap.
The insect larvae found in tree bark are a major source of food for woodpeckers in the late spring and early summer. They use their long tongues to reach deep into crevices in the bark where insects hide. These larvae provide a rich source of protein for woodpeckers and help them build up strength for breeding season. As summer progresses and temperatures rise, woodpeckers begin to shift their focus towards other food sources.
In the Fall:
In the fall, woodpeckers tend to consume a diverse range of foods. They may eat fruits, seeds, nuts, and insects as part of their diet. Many trees start to produce nuts and fruits like acorns and apples in the fall. These meals offer woodpeckers a great source of energy.
Additionally, insects such as ants and beetles become more active in the cooler temperatures of fall. Woodpeckers will take advantage of this increased insect activity by feeding on them.
In addition to nuts, fruits, and insects, woodpeckers also eat seeds during the fall season. Many plants release their seeds during this time of year as a means of reproduction.
In the Winter:
In the winter months, their food preferences shift. At this time of year, insects are the main source of food for woodpeckers. Throughout the winter, insects like beetle larvae, ants, and caterpillars are plentiful and offer woodpeckers a crucial source of protein.
They also feed on nuts and seeds that have been stored away during the fall season. These food sources help to sustain woodpeckers throughout the cold winter months when other food sources may be scarce.
Another important aspect of a woodpecker’s diet in the winter is sap from trees. In order to obtain the sap that gives them vital nutrition and energy, several species of woodpeckers drill into tree trunks.
Woodpecker Feeder Plans
Do you enjoy watching birds and want to entice woodpeckers to your backyard? If so, building a woodpecker feeder could be the solution you’ve been searching for. Not only will a well-built feeder provide food for these beautiful birds, but it can also serve as a great addition to your yard’s décor.
Before getting started on your feeder plans, it’s important to understand what woodpeckers eat. These birds are known for their love of insects and larvae found in trees, especially those with dead or decaying bark. They use their strong bills to drill into the bark and extract their prey. Numerous species of woodpeckers also like nuts, seeds, and fruit in addition to insects.
When designing your woodpecker feeder, consider incorporating elements that cater specifically to their dietary needs.
Suet Feeders:
Although there are many various kinds of woodpecker feeders available, the suet feeder is a well-liked choice. Suet feeders are essentially cages or containers that hold blocks of high-energy suet, which is made from animal fat and other ingredients. Suet is a favorite food of woodpeckers because it is rich in calories and gives them the energy they need to survive the chilly winter months when food supplies may be limited.
Do you want to place a high-quality suet feeder in your backyard? We advise getting the Nature’s Way Bird Items Upside-Down Bird Feeder (the link takes you to Amazon). More than a thousand reviews have already been submitted for this feeder.
Hopper or Tray Feeders:
There are two types of feeder plans you can use – hopper and tray feeders.
Hopper feeders are ideal for larger woodpeckers like the Pileated Woodpecker. These feeders have a covered roof that protects the birdseed from rain and snow, making it accessible all year round. Tray feeders, on the other hand, work best for smaller woodpeckers like Downy or Hairy Woodpeckers. These birds prefer perching on open platforms while feeding.
Both online and offline, you may discover a selection of hopper or tray feeders. You can choose the Woodlink Absolute II Squirrel Resistant Bird Feeder from Amazon, nevertheless, if you put your trust in us. The sturdy steel body of this double-sided feeder is powder coated.
Nectar Feeders:
One type of woodpecker feeder that is popular among bird enthusiasts is the nectar feeder. Nectar feeders are typically filled with a mixture of sugar water that mimics the natural nectar found in flowers. Even though nectar may not often be consumed by woodpeckers, it can still be utilized as a successful lure to draw them in for closer inspection. Nectar feeders can also attract other types of birds like hummingbirds and orioles, making them a versatile addition to any backyard habitat.
Nectar feeders typically have smaller feeding apertures in accordance with hummingbirds’ bills. Our recommendation for a nectar feeder that attracts woodpeckers is the More Birds Glory Hummingbird Feeder from Amazon.
Woodpecker Feeder Placement
- Place suet feeders for woodpeckers next to large branches or tree trunks for strong support if you plan to hang them.
- Hopper or tray feeders should be hung 3 to 4 feet above the ground to keep predators and other birds away.
- You must put nectar feeders close to flowering plants that produce nectar.
Woodpecker Feeding Tips
You need to make sure a few things if you want to encourage woodpeckers to eat from your feeders.
- Use insecticides and pesticides sparingly in your yard.
- For the winter months, plant fruit trees, nut trees, and berry bushes.
- In your backyard, grow flowering plants that produce seeds.
- Provide woodpeckers access to a secure eating area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is the difference between drumming and feeding?
A rhythmic activity known as drumming is typically carried out with percussion instruments including gongs, cymbals, and drums. It is often used in music to create a foundation for other instruments or to provide a repetitive background beat. Feeding involves giving food to an animal.
2. How do woodpeckers eat wood?
Woodpeckers use their beaks to drill into the wood and extract the insects or other small creatures that live there.
3. How do safflower seeds get into the woodpecker’s diet?
Safflower seeds are a common food for woodpeckers. They are eaten whole or ground up and are found in the woodpecker’s diet both in the wild and in captivity.
4. What kind of birds do woodpeckers eat?
There are many different kinds of birds that woodpeckers eat, but the most common is the chickadee. Chickadees are small and easy to take down, so woodpeckers often hunt them as their main food source.
5. What do woodpeckers eat?
Woodpeckers primarily eat insects, but will also consume small animals and birds.
Conclusion
In conclusion,woodpeckers eat insects, small mammals, and fruit. Their diet depends on what is available at the time. When studying woodpeckers in the field, it’s crucial to keep this fact in mind. Knowing their diet can help you identify where they are gathering food and help you better appreciate their behavior.
You may provide woodpeckers with a range of delicacies depending on the season now that you know what they truly consume. If you truly adore woodpeckers, you can do this so that you can view them all year round near your home.
However we genuinely hope that you may find this information useful. Please use the comment section below to contribute any information you believe we should have included in this post or your experiences with woodpeckers.
