Pileated Woodpeckers are commonly found in all kinds of forests around the northwestern coast of North American countries. Bird watchers love this particular species because of their flaming red crest. Additionally, homeowners value them due to their insect-eating behavior.
If you are currently looking for the most effective ways to get Pileated Woodpeckers to come to your backyard, then this guide is for you. Read on as we learn more about the king of the woodpeckers.
Best Ways To Attract A Pileated Woodpecker
As with any bird species, it is important to learn several details before you try to lure Pileated Woodpeckers into your backyard. Below, you will find some proven ways to get the attention of these birds and keep them coming back to your property.
First Give Them A Nesting Spot
One of the best ways to attract Pileated Woodpeckers is by providing them with a place to rest. In their natural habitat, this species makes its nest on decaying trees. These nests can be as high as 70 feet from the ground.
A Pileated Woodpecker can put three to five of its offspring in its nest. Thus, the nest you provide should be at least six inches wide to provide the bird easy access in and out. Otherwise, the bird would have to do additional work.
The best option would be a dead tree near your home. If you can’t find one, you could also use a nesting box. Just make sure that the box is at least nine inches deep and 20 feet tall from the ground.
Pileated Love Suet
Experts in bird feeding and observation agree that suet is one of the best food items you can give to birds, including Pileated Woodpeckers. It can be offered year-round and will attract many different species.
The good news is that it’s actually not hard to make your own suet. There are already a lot of suet recipes available online. The most important thing to remember is to only include quality fat ingredients and not stuff them with sugary items.
You may need to use several suet feeders to ensure success in attracting this specific species. Offer extra pieces in early winter to help the birds fatten up and ensure their presence throughout the winter months.
Buy An Attractive Bird Feeder
Once you have your suet at hand, it is time to put it in a bird feeder. You can use either a tree trunk feeder or a basket feeder. These two options provide great accessibility and may work with different bird food categories.
If you decide to go with a basket, it is important to consider the mesh size. There have been some occasions where bird toes become entangled. Therefore, if you’re trying to attract Pileated Woodpeckers, it is best to use feeders with a bigger mesh.
Don’t Forget The Water
It should be common knowledge that these birds also need water to drink along with an abundance of food resources. While they don’t need a huge amount, easy access to water is very important.
Woodpeckers Need Dead Trees and Leaves
If you really want to replicate the woodpecker’s natural habitat, it is important to keep dead trees and limbs. Those dead branches not only provide spaces for these birds to perch and play around but also an additional food source.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that these birds will feed on decayed tree parts, but those dead limbs will provide an area for insects to grow and develop, providing delicious snacks for the woodpeckers.
Plant Fruit Bearing Trees and Shrubs
Besides insects and small animals, Pileated Woodpeckers also get their nutrition from wild fruits. Unfortunately, it can be costly to provide fresh fruits for them every day, as the prices of fruit fluctuate from time to time.
To address the situation, you can plant several fruit-bearing trees in your backyard. Yes, this is not an immediate solution. However, it can be a much more economical option in the long run.
Some types of fruit suitable for these birds are huckleberries, blackberries, and persimmon. These birds have also been spotted eating poison ivy. However, it is not recommended to purposefully plant poison ivy in your backyard.
Arrange a Private Bird Bath
Every bird watcher knows how nice it is to have a birdbath in a backyard. What you probably don’t know is that Pileated Woodpeckers don’t like to share a bath with other birds. Therefore, it is advised that you provide them with a specific bathing area.
If possible, make a ground bird bath area with enough shading. Additionally, ensure that this area is far from any road or residential zone to keep it quiet. You can also place several wildflowers to better attract these birds.
Refill The Bird Feeder Frequently
You should also make sure that you refill the feeders regularly. Otherwise, the birds may go to other places to find food. Remember, Pileated Woodpeckers can be reserved at times, so it may take longer for them to appear in your backyard.
For best results, try offering different food items in your feeders. Patience is key with these birds. So, unless you happen to live near their natural habitat, you should expect to wait sometime before you see them feeding on the food you provide.
Create Some Perching Space
As you may have heard in the past, these birds are big perchers, which is why they need a lot of perching spots. In addition, they often perch in a vertical position. With this in mind, the best way to give them enough perching spots is to have a lot of fully grown trees.
Keep The Nesting and Feeders Clean
Ultimately, you should keep in mind that these birds will not be attracted to a dirty nest. Thus, if you want your Pileated Woodpecker to keep coming back every mating season, you should remember to clean the feeder and nest boxes.
Furthermore, a dirty nest box can be infested with fleas and lice. This, obviously, is not desirable in your backyard. You should always clean the boxes once the woodpeckers are gone.
Fun Facts
This bird species gets its name from the Latin word for “capped,” which refers to the bright red crest on its head. It shares its territory with one partner. Uniquely, it does not share its nesting space with its partner because its nest is usually not big enough to accommodate more than one bird.
Another distinctive characteristic of the Pileated Woodpecker is that it is a very adaptive species. Despite deforestation and threats related to human development, it has remained common. The only alarming issues for this species are collisions with buildings and predatory pets, such as cats.
FAQ‘s
Pileated Woodpecker Male vs Female: How To Tell The Difference?
It is very hard to distinguish between male and female Pileated Woodpeckers, as they both have red crests and white accents. Even so, you should find a red malar stripe on the males and a white malar stripe on the females.
How Fast Can You Attract a Pileated Woodpecker?
It is not easy to tell how long you should wait before a Pileated Woodpecker regularly comes to your backyard. The key is to provide enough food resources and an ideal environment.
How Common Are Pileated Woodpeckers?
Pileated Woodpeckers have done a great job of adapting to suburban and urban habitats. Therefore, the species remains very common around the US and Canada’s northwestern coast.
How Long Do Woodpeckers Stay in One Place?
Woodpeckers generally migrate and will come back to their homes once a year. However, pileated ones are somewhat different. They do not migrate, so they can be found around their homes year-round.
Do Woodpeckers Come Back to the Same Spot?
Yes, a lot of woodpeckers return to their nests every year. Many of these birds come back to their homes in early spring. However, the migrating period may be different for each variant.
Are Pileated Woodpeckers Endangered?
The latest data shows that this species is no longer considered endangered. However, there is a decline in its habitat availability. Forest destruction and the earth’s increasing temperature play a big role in this.
Where Are Pileated Woodpeckers Commonly Found?
This bird species favors areas with dense stands of large trees. For this reason, they can be commonly seen in conifer and deciduous forests along Canada’s southern regions all the way down to the Atlantic coast.
Conclusion
If you live around the eastern part of North America’s northwestern coast, you are lucky because it should not be hard for you to come across Pileated Woodpeckers. They can be easily spotted in old-growth forests.
Follow the tips above and learn how to attract a Pileated Woodpecker in the most efficient way.
