Quick Answers
Woodpeckers may visit hummingbird feeders for a few reasons:
- They are attracted to the sugar water in the feeders
- They may peck at the feeders looking for insects
- Hummingbird feeders are a convenient source of food
While woodpeckers don’t rely on nectar like hummingbirds, they will take advantage of an easy meal from time to time. Their presence at the feeders doesn’t necessarily mean there is a problem. As long as they are not scaring away hummingbirds or damaging the feeders, they can be left alone. Some solutions for discouraging woodpeckers include moving/rotating feeder locations, using feeders with perch guards, or using feeders made specifically to exclude larger birds.
Why Do Woodpeckers Visit Hummingbird Feeders?
Woodpeckers are primarily insectivores, meaning insects make up the majority of their diet. However, they are opportunistic and will take advantage of convenient food sources like hummingbird feeders. Here are some of the main reasons woodpeckers may show up at your hummingbird feeders:
Attracted to the Sugar Water
The main ingredient in homemade nectar and commercial hummingbird food is sucrose sugar. This sweet liquid is designed to replicate the natural nectar that hummingbirds feed on from flowers.
Woodpeckers also have a taste for sweets and can smell the sugar water from surprising distances away. Once they discover a hummingbird feeder, they will periodically return to sip the sweet nectar.
While woodpeckers don’t subsist off nectar, they will drink from hummingbird feeders if the opportunity presents itself. The high-sugar solution offers them quick carbohydrates and calories.
Searching for Insects
In addition to enjoying the sugar water itself, woodpeckers may be drawn to hummingbird feeders when looking for insect prey.
Hummingbird feeders attract plenty of flying insects like bees, wasps, and ants that are attracted to the sugar water and get trapped inside the feeder chambers. Woodpeckers can see and hear the insects buzzing around the feeders and will investigate to eat them.
Woodpeckers may also peck at the feeders to create holes and access any insect larvae developing in the chambers. Their powerful beaks can pierce straight through plastic feeders.
Convenient Source of Food
Compared to searching through tree bark or leaves for prey, drinking from hummingbird feeders represents an easy meal for minimal effort.
As intelligent birds, woodpeckers recognize hummingbird feeders as a rapid source of energy. Once they learn of it, they are likely to periodically return to take advantage of the free food rather than expend more energy hunting.
In residential areas where natural food sources may be scarce, hummingbird feeders and other bird feeders are easy pickings for savvy woodpeckers. They quickly learn to associate houses and backyards with readily available meals.
Do Woodpeckers Damage the Feeders?
Woodpeckers can potentially damage hummingbird feeders in a couple of ways:
- Piercing holes – They may peck holes directly into plastic feeders with their strong beaks to access the sugar water.
- Enlarging feeding ports – They may pick at and enlarge the feeding ports attempting to widen the holes to make feeding easier.
However, woodpeckers tend to be neater than other nectar-feeding birds when they visit hummingbird feeders.
Orioles, for example, can be quite messy, splashing sugar water over the ground as they feed. Woodpeckers generally sip carefully without making a mess.
As smart foragers, woodpeckers aim not to damage a good food source. If your feeder is sturdy and doesn’t have existing perforations, woodpeckers may drink from it for seasons without poking holes.
But cheaper plastic feeders are more vulnerable to damage, so inspect your feeders regularly for any woodpecker damage if they are visiting often.
Do Woodpeckers Deter Hummingbirds?
In most cases, woodpeckers will not significantly deter hummingbirds from using your feeders. Here are some things to consider:
Different Feeding Behaviors
Woodpeckers and hummingbirds have very distinct feeding styles:
- Woodpeckers perch and grasp the feeder to drink in place, while hummingbirds are designed to hover and lap nectar.
- Woodpeckers visit the feeders periodically throughout the day while hummingbirds feed in frequent small bursts.
- Hummingbirds are highly territorial, while woodpeckers feed socially.
These differences mean the two species generally stay out of each other’s way. Woodpeckers temporarily visiting a feeder are not seen as a threat by territorial hummingbirds.
Different Times of Day
Woodpeckers are most active in the early mornings and evenings. Hummingbirds feed more heavily in the mornings and afternoons.
This complementary feeding schedule further reduces competition. Hummingbirds have unimpeded access to the feeders during peak activity, while woodpeckers visit at off-hours when nectar flow is slower.
Plenty of Food to Share
The average hummingbird feeder holds enough nectar to adequately feed several birds per day. As long as your feeder is kept full, there is no danger of woodpeckers draining all the food and preventing hummingbirds from feeding.
With multiple feeders in an area, woodpeckers may stick to one or two as “their” feeders and leave the others free for hummingbird use.
Tips for Deterring Woodpeckers
While woodpeckers at your hummingbird feeder isn’t usually a major problem, you can take some steps to discourage them if needed:
Move/Rotate Feeder Locations
Switching up where your feeders are placed in your yard every few days can deter woodpeckers. Doing so breaks their mental map of where to find the feeders.
Just be sure the new locations stay reasonably convenient for your hummingbirds to find.
Use Feeders with Perch Guards
Many hummingbird feeder models come with plastic perch guards that partially cover the feeding ports. These function as a barrier to make access physically difficult for larger woodpeckers.
Get a Specialty Feeder
Certain hummingbird feeder designs like the Perky-Pet Woodpecker Resistant Feeder have extra-long perch guards to fully block woodpecker access. There are also mesh “cage” feeders that allow hummingbirds to reach the nectar through small ports while excluding woodpeckers.
Apply Taste Deterrents
Coating feeders with a taste deterrent like hot pepper oil may discourage woodpecker visitation. Avoid applying oil on feeding ports, as this could also deter hummingbirds. Reapply regularly, especially after rain.
Use Feeders with Built-In Perches
Many traditional hummingbird feeders do not have perches, since hummingbirds do not need to land to feed. However, models with small built-in perches can allow hummingbirds to rest while making it more difficult for woodpeckers to balance.
When to Take Action
Occasional woodpecker visits to your hummingbird feeders are not necessarily a problem to be solved. Allow their presence unless any of these issues arise:
- Feeders are being damaged/drained excessively
- Woodpeckers are scaring hummingbirds away from feeders
- Evidence of nestlings/fledglings not surviving due to lack of food
- You simply want to optimize feeders for hummingbirds only
If your hummingbirds’ needs are being met and the feeders are intact, enjoy the woodpeckers as free entertainment! Their acrobatics and colorful plumage can be a fun change of pace.
Conclusion
While you may be surprised to see a woodpecker at your hummingbird feeder at first, they are simply opportunistic birds capitalizing on an easy meal. As intelligent foragers, they quickly learn to associate feeders with rich nectar rewards.
A woodpecker here and there is usually not problematic for your hummingbirds. But if they become overzealous, there are techniques like using specialty feeders or rotating locations to discourage them. With a little adjustment, you can strike the right balance and enjoy activity at your feeders from both hummingbirds and woodpeckers.