The best bird feeder and seed for downy woodpeckers
The smallest North American woodpecker, comfortable on a plain suet cage and even tube ports. Downies also drink from hummingbird feeders occasionally.
Which feeder types do downy woodpeckers use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suet cage | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | The simplest feeder there is. Hang on a trunk or pole. |
| Peanut mesh feeder | Shelled peanuts | Squirrels chew through soft mesh; use steel | Birds peck pieces through the mesh, which is safer for nestlings than whole kernels. |
| Tube feeder | Sunflower, hearts, mixes | Poor unless caged or weight-activated | The workhorse for small clinging birds. Metal ports resist squirrel chewing. |
Feeders downy woodpeckers use, budget to premium
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
What seed do downy woodpeckers like best?
| Food | Why | Storage |
|---|---|---|
| Suet and suet dough | Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. | Raw suet goes rancid above about 70 F; use no-melt dough in summer |
| Shelled peanuts | Raw or dry-roasted, never salted or flavoured. Use a mesh feeder so birds peck pieces rather than swallowing whole kernels in nesting season. | Keep dry and cool; mould is the risk |
| Sunflower hearts and chips | Costs more per pound but nothing is wasted as shell weight, and nothing sprouts under the feeder. The best choice over a patio or deck. | Spoils faster; buy what you use in a few weeks |
Food to buy for downy woodpeckers
Prices move constantly; the button shows the current figure.
Where and when should you feed downy woodpeckers?
- Height and spot: 5 feet.
- When: Year round.
- Range: Most of North America.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings blue jays, goldfinches, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Downy woodpeckers use nest boxes. See the Downy Woodpecker house dimensions: 4 x 4 inch floor, 1 1/4 in hole, mounted 5 to 20 ft up.
Feeders for other birds
Cardinals · Blue Jays · Goldfinches · House Finches · Chickadees · Titmice · Nuthatches · Woodpeckers · Bluebirds · Wrens · Orioles · Hummingbirds · Mourning Doves · Juncos · Native Sparrows · Towhees · Grosbeaks · Robins · Mockingbirds · Pine Siskins · Purple Finches · Redpolls · Keeping starlings and grackles away · Red-bellied Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the downy woodpeckers feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for downy woodpeckers on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for downy woodpeckers?
A suet cage is the most reliable choice for downy woodpeckers. The smallest North American woodpecker, comfortable on a plain suet cage and even tube ports. Pair it with suet and suet dough, place it 5 feet, and keep it clean every two weeks. A second feeder type such as a peanut mesh feeder widens the appeal without adding much work.
What do downy woodpeckers eat at feeders?
In order of preference: suet and suet dough, shelled peanuts and sunflower hearts and chips. Rendered suet cakes are the standard; no-melt doughs blend fat with flour or cornmeal to hold shape in heat. Offer one food per feeder rather than a mix, so birds are not flicking unwanted grains onto the ground to get at the one they want.
Where should I put a feeder for downy woodpeckers?
5 feet. Keep it within 3 feet of a window or beyond 30 feet to avoid collisions, at least 10 feet from anything a squirrel can jump from, and 10 to 12 feet from dense shrubs so downy woodpeckers can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do downy woodpeckers come to feeders?
Year round. Range: Most of North America. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season downy woodpeckers are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do downy woodpeckers use birdhouses?
Yes. Downy woodpeckers are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 4 x 4 inch floor and a 1 1/4 in entrance, mounted 5 to 20 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.