Woodpeckers are fascinating birds.  They have unique feeding habits and walk around on vertical surfaces like tree trunks as easily as people walk around on the ground.

Species.  Woodpeckers come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors, and are found all over the world.  Common varieties in the United States include the Pileated Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Red Headed Woodpecker, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.

Moving vertically.  Woodpeckers have a special clinging ability that other birds do not have.  Woodpecker feet are more evenly balanced in their design, with two toes facing forward and two toes facing backward.  They also have very sharp claws that enable them to cling into many types of vertical surfaces, even smooth wood.  The woodpecker also uses it's tail feathers as a prop to support them as they move about.  This allows them to hang on to vertical surfaces for long periods of time.

Eating habits.  Woodpeckers like to eat insects and their food preferences vary, depending on their species.  Woodpeckers have a strong beak and a long, barbed, sticky tongues that enable them to reach deep into wood cavities to find insects.  They may eat things such as ants, larvae, worms, caterpillars, spiders, and even cockroaches.  They also may eat, fruit seeds, nuts, and berries.  Their hearing is very good and they can actually hear insects moving about under bark on trees.  Click the photo on the right for a YouTube clip of an Acorn Woodpecker feeding at a seed feeder!

Habitat.  Most woodpeckers live in holes (cavities), either pre-existing or created, in live trees, or dead wood.  They can nest in trees as much as eighty feet above the ground.  Unfortunately, starlings oftentimes steal nesting cavities created by woodpeckers.   Many woodpeckers typically stay in one area all year round and do not migrate.

Ready to start feeding woodpeckers?  We offer two types of suet feeders - order one today!

[Hangabout™ Suet Feeder]   [Starling Stopper™, Jr Suet Feeder]

Click photo to see
Pileated Woodpecker
searching for food (YouTube)

Woodpecker feeders, built for woodpeckers
Thoroughly researched and tested
Affordably priced