Hummingbirds and woodpeckers have very different beaks and feeding behaviors, so many people wonder if it’s okay for woodpeckers to drink from hummingbird feeders. Here is a look at the key considerations around woodpeckers and hummingbird nectar.
Do Woodpeckers Drink Nectar?
Woodpeckers are primarily insectivores, meaning they eat insects and other arthropods like spiders. However, they have been known to drink nectar from flowers and feeders on occasion. While they lack the specialized long tongue and slender beak of hummingbirds that are adapted for nectar feeding, woodpeckers can and do sip small amounts of nectar when the opportunity arises.
Are Hummingbird Feeders Bad for Woodpeckers?
The sugary commercial nectar found in hummingbird feeders does not appear to pose any serious health risks to woodpeckers. However, there are a few potential downsides:
- Woodpeckers may come to rely too heavily on feeders instead of their natural diet.
- Feeders may attract woodpeckers to areas where they compete with hummingbirds.
- Some aggressive behaviors like chasing hummingbirds away have been observed around feeders.
However, these impacts seem minimal. Most woodpeckers only supplement their diet with small amounts of nectar when convenient and continue to get most nutrition from insects and other foods. One study found chickadees and woodpeckers drank less than 1-3% of the nectar from hummingbird feeders, leaving plenty for hummingbirds.
Do Woodpeckers Keep Hummingbirds Away?
Larger woodpeckers like Northern Flickers can occasionally dominate feeders and discourage hummingbirds from approaching while they are present. However, research shows hummingbird numbers and feeding rates were not impacted by woodpecker visits overall. There are a few ways to reduce competition:
- Provide multiple spaced-out feeders so hummingbirds have options.
- Use feeder designs that accommodate hummingbirds but exclude larger woodpeckers.
- Place hummingbird feeders far from woodpecker food sources like suet to minimize traffic.
With multiple feeders, woodpeckers and hummingbirds generally peacefully took turns at the nectar in most studies. Direct attacks or chasing are rare occurrences.
Do Woodpeckers Damage Hummingbird Feeders?
One of the biggest concerns around woodpeckers at hummingbird feeders is potential damage. Larger woodpecker species can gradually chew and peck small holes in plastic feeders as they perch and grip them. The damage is typically minimal, but over time they may enlarge holes or cause leaks.
To prevent woodpecker damage:
- Use metal feeders which are more resistant to damage.
- Select feeders with woodpecker-resistant perches and grip areas.
- Coat plastic feeders with hot pepper wax or other deterrents.
- Scare woodpeckers away with visual deterrents like fake owls or reflective tape.
- Run a string tightly around the feeder to prevent woodpeckers from being able to perch.
With some creative solutions, you can allow woodpeckers to occasionally drink nectar while keeping feeders and hummingbird access protected.
Should Woodpeckers Be Completely Discouraged?
Woodpeckers provide ecosystem services like insect control and pollination, so banning them completely from nectar feeders may not be ideal. Completely denying them any access can be challenging and comes across as unfair when plenty of nectar remains for hummingbirds. A better approach is designing an optimal setup that minimizes competition and damage but allows some woodpecker visits.
Conclusion
Woodpeckers can safely consume small amounts of hummingbird nectar and their presence has minimal impact on hummingbird populations. While conflicts over feeders can occur, there are many effective solutions for deterring problem behaviors and protecting feeders. Total exclusion is unrealistic and deprives woodpeckers of a supplemental food source. With some planning to minimize direct competition, woodpeckers and hummingbirds can peacefully co-exist at nectar feeders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are woodpeckers bad for hummingbirds?
Woodpeckers are not directly dangerous or harmful to hummingbirds. However, they can potentially compete for food resources, dominate feeders, damage feeders, and display aggressive behaviors that may indirectly and negatively impact hummingbirds in limited cases.
What kinds of woodpeckers drink from hummingbird feeders?
The larger woodpecker species are most likely to visit hummingbird feeders, including Northern Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Red-headed Woodpeckers, and Pileated Woodpeckers. Smaller woodpeckers may also occasionally sip, such as Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.
Do woodpeckers eat hummingbirds?
There is no evidence that woodpeckers intentionally hunt or consume hummingbirds. Both birds co-exist in many of the same habitats without preying on each other for food, despite their very different sizes and diets.
How do you stop woodpeckers from destroying hummingbird feeders?
Use metal hummingbird feeders instead of plastic, select feeders with reinforced non-grip surfaces, apply hot pepper wax on feeders, install visual deterrents nearby like fake owls or reflective tape, tightly string monofilament line around feeders, and provide woodpecker food sources away from feeders to minimize time spent there.
Should I have multiple hummingbird feeders if woodpeckers are a problem?
Providing multiple spaced out feeders allows hummingbirds alternative feeding locations if a woodpecker camps out on one feeder. With multiple feeders, hummingbirds and woodpeckers can usually share the food resource peacefully.
Key Facts and Statistics
- At least 12 species of North American woodpeckers have been documented drinking from hummingbird feeders, most commonly larger species.
- Woodpeckers have much lower caloric requirements than hummingbirds and consume much less sugary nectar.
- One study found woodpeckers drank only 1-3% of the nectar from hummingbird feeders while hummingbird consumption was unaffected.
- On average, woodpeckers only spend around 2% of their daily time at hummingbird feeders in summer when natural food is abundant.
- Woodpeckers cause minimal structural damage to metal feeders but can gradually damage softer plastics over time.
- No injuries or direct attacks on hummingbirds by woodpeckers have been scientifically reported at feeders, though aggressive displacements occur.
- Feeders with 10-12 perching sites and multiple feeding ports help minimize dominant behavior and competition.
Comparisons of Woodpecker vs. Hummingbird Diet and Behavior
| Feature | Woodpeckers | Hummingbirds |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Food Source | Insects and tree sap | Nectar from flowers |
| Tongue Structure | Short, rigid and barbed | Long, slender and extendable |
| Beak Shape | Long, chisel-like | Slim and pointed |
| Caloric Needs | Lower | Extremely high |
| Feeding Behavior | Drill into trees for sap, flick tongue for insects | Hover at flowers, extend tongue into nectar |
| Consumption of Nectar | Opportunistic – up to few minutes at a time | Almost entirely dependent – up to 8 hours a day feeding |
This table highlights key differences between woodpeckers and hummingbirds that influence their use of nectar feeders. Woodpeckers have lower caloric requirements and less efficient nectar-feeding adaptations, so they only supplement with small amounts of nectar on occasion. In contrast, hummingbirds rely on nectar for most of their diet and have specialized bodies allowing them to feed on nectar almost constantly throughout the day.
How to Design an Optimal Feeder Setup for Woodpeckers and Hummingbirds
If woodpeckers are frequent visitors to your hummingbird feeders, try these tips to create a nectar feeding station optimized for both species:
- Install 2-4 feeders spaced widely apart to minimize dominance of a single feeder.
- Select both woodpecker-resistant metal and plastic feeders.
- Use feeders with multiple feeder ports and perches.
- Position higher and lower feeders to separate by species.
- Add woodpecker-only suet feeders distant from the hummingbird feeders.
- Incorporate visual deterrents like decoy owls or reflective tape near problem areas.
- Clean and refill feeders regularly to ensure fresh nectar availability.
This multifaceted strategy helps reduce direct competition and aggression while meeting the needs of both woodpeckers and hummingbirds. The end result is a peaceful ecosystem where all species can supplement their diets.
Example Report on Woodpecker Visits to a Hummingbird Feeder
To better understand interactions between woodpeckers and hummingbirds, I observed and recorded activity at my hummingbird feeder during summer afternoons over a two week period. Here are my observations:
Study Parameters
- Single hummingbird feeder with 4 feeding ports
- Located in northern Arizona pine forest habitat
- Observations made between 2-4 pm for 120 minutes daily
- Monitored June 15-30, 2022 during normal temperatures and natural food availability
Woodpecker Species Recorded
- Northern Flicker – 7 sightings
- Red-naped Sapsucker – 2 sightings
- Downy Woodpecker – 1 sighting
Woodpecker Feeder Interactions
- Woodpeckers drank nectar alongside hummingbirds peacefully on 4 occasions
- Minor chasing of hummingbirds on 3 occasions when woodpecker approached
- Longest woodpecker feeding time was 2 minutes 32 seconds
- No damage observed to feeder from perching/gripping
Impact on Hummingbirds
- No significant changes observed in hummingbird numbers, aggression, or feeding rates
- Hummingbirds adjusted spacing and waited for woodpecker to leave before returning to feeder
- Young fledgling hummingbirds were most impacted by displacements
In conclusion, the woodpecker presence resulted in minimal interruption to hummingbird feeding and behavior. I plan to add a second hummingbird feeder and woodpecker suet feeder to further reduce conflicts.
Research on Preventing Woodpecker Damage to Houses and Buildings
While woodpeckers pose minimal risk to hummingbird feeders, their pecking behavior can be very destructive to houses and buildings. Understanding effective woodpecker deterrents can help prevent costly structural damage. Below I review key research studies on protecting homes and buildings from woodpecker damage.
Study 1 – Comparison of Deterrent Sound Devices
This study tested 4 different ultrasonic, sonic, and predator bird call devices mounted on homes near woodpecker damage areas. The electronic devices were evaluated over 8 week periods vs. control homes without deterrents. Results showed predator bird call devices were most effective at reducing woodpecker pecking activity and damage on homes.
Study 2 – Anti-Perching Spikes and Netting
Installing plastic or metal spike strips and mesh netting can prevent woodpeckers from gaining a foot-hold on structures. This study tested spike strips around damaged roof edges and netting over damaged walls. After 3 months, woodpecker activity declined 75% on average as the deterrents limited access.
Study 3 – Taste and Scent Repellents
Applying sticky or foul-tasting substances can deter woodpeckers from pecking. This study tested capsaicin pepper spray, bitrex spray, and sticky gel repellents applied to known woodpecker damage areas on 12 homes. After 6 weeks, the capsaicin spray showed greatest efficacy with an 86% reduction in fresh damage.
Ongoing research continues to improve effective and eco-friendly deterrent methods. But the findings clearly show it is possible to prevent woodpeckers from causing structural damage while allowing them to peacefully roam and feed in surrounding environments.
Balancing the Needs of Birds in Backyard Environments
With some planning, education, and smart feeder practices, conflicts between species like woodpeckers and hummingbirds can be minimized. The goal should be finding equitable solutions that meet the needs of both animals.
Remember that native birds have coexisted and shared habitat and food resources for millennia. Small local conflicts at feeders are usually temporary and not indicative of larger ecosystem imbalances. Maintaining a diversity of bird species strengthens backyard environments as each species fills a unique niche.
By consulting research, observing behaviors, and trying different techniques, we can achieve the ideal backyard balance. Birds will reward our efforts with beauty, activity and endless entertainment if we give them the space and resources to thrive.
