Woodpeckers are unique backyard birds with special needs when it comes to bird feeders. Their anatomy and feeding behaviors require bird feeders that allow them to cling vertically while they peck away at food sources. Choosing the right feeder style can attract more woodpeckers to your yard and provide better viewing opportunities.
What do woodpeckers eat?
Woodpeckers are omnivores and will eat both plant-based and animal-based foods. Their typical diet consists of:
- Insects (ants, beetle larvae, caterpillars)
- Nuts (acorns, almonds, pecans)
- Berries
- Sap
- Seeds (sunflower, millet, corn)
- Suet
- Fruit
They use their specialized beaks to drill into trees and wood to extract insects and sap. At bird feeders, they prefer foods they can cling to like suet, peanuts, and some seed mixes. Nut blocks and cylinders provide excellent feeding platforms.
Why can’t woodpeckers use traditional feeders?
The anatomy and feeding behaviors of woodpeckers make traditional bird feeders unsuitable for them:
- They have two sharp, claw-tipped toes that are angled to grip vertical and horizontal surfaces.
- Their stiff tail feathers provide support as they lean away from tree trunks.
- They drill into wood, pound on surfaces, and flake away bark using their chisel-like beaks.
- Their long tongues have barbs that can wrap around insects deep inside wood and holes.
Perching bird feeders that require landing and perching are ineffective for woodpeckers. Platform feeders also fail to accommodate their climbing and clinging habits. Woodpeckers prefer to dine on vertical surfaces where they can balance comfortably.
Best feeders for woodpeckers
The best bird feeders for woodpeckers have the following features:
- Vertical orientation: Feeders should be mounted on a tree trunk, post, or wall so woodpeckers can cling vertically.
- Suet cages: Suet feeders with wire cages allow clinging and tail bracing.
- Mesh panels: Mesh panels on suet feeders provide a good gripping surface.
- Tail props: Some feeders have plastic or metal tail props to help support woodpeckers.
- Snag-proof: No sharp edges or obtrusions that could snag woodpecker’s feathers.
Here are some excellent feeder options to attract woodpeckers:
Suet feeders
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Woodpecker Clinger Suet Feeder | Caged suet feeder with a woodpecker tail prop and feeding ports perfect for large suet chunks |
| Audubon Suet Cage | Features a vinyl-coated mesh for easy clinging and a removable front for filling |
| Brome 1024 Squirrel Solution | Metal suet cage with weight to prevent squirrel spinning |
Nut feeders
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Lyjyc Woodpecker Feeder | Tube feeder for peanuts, tree nuts, and seeds. Includes tail prop. |
| Squirrel Buster Woodpecker Feeder | Features adjustable weight system to prevent squirrels and close between feedings |
| Woodpecker Treat Suet Log | Log shape filled with nuts and seeds for clinging and hammering |
Tube feeders
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Aspects 375 | Clear plastic tube allows viewing of seed level |
| Perky-Pet Hammering Beak Feeder | Has a woodpecker tail brace and feeding ports for clinging |
| Roamwild PestOff | Tube feeder with metal mesh and perches |
Hopper feeders
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Nature’s Way Hopper Feeder | Metal construction with large hopper |
| Woodlink Going Green Hopper | Recycled plastic hopper resistant to elements |
| Squirrel Buster Standard | Weight-adjustable hopper prevents squirrels |
Tips for attracting woodpeckers
Follow these tips to bring woodpeckers to your custom feeders:
- Offer foods woodpeckers crave like suet, nuts, peanut butter, mealworms, and sunflower seeds
- Mount feeders on sturdy tree trunks near woods or forests
- Use a natural bark texture like rough cedar for woodpecker-friendly perching
- Add a water source like a dripping water fountain for drinking and bathing
- Provide dead trees or limbs for nesting and drumming
- Avoid over-cleaning feeder areas so insect larvae remain in nearby woods
With the right bird feeders catered to their feeding style, woodpeckers can become regular backyard guests. Watching them cling vertically, hammer away, and flick out those long tongues is a rewarding payoff for providing suitable feeders.
Conclusion
Woodpeckers are uniquely designed birds that require specialized vertical bird feeders. Suet cages, nut logs, mesh tube feeders, and hoppers with tail props allow woodpeckers to dine comfortably while clinging. Mounting feeders on tree trunks and stocking woodpecker favorites like suet, nuts, and peanuts will attract these exceptional birds. With a tail brace for support and a surface for hammering, woodpeckers will become backyard regulars at their custom feeders.
