The best bird feeder and seed for red-bellied woodpeckers
A large woodpecker that needs a tail-prop suet feeder and eats peanuts, suet and even oranges. Red-bellied woodpeckers also visit oriole jelly feeders.
Which feeder types do red-bellied woodpeckers use?
| Feeder | Holds | Squirrels | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tail-prop suet feeder | Suet cakes | Squirrels chew suet | An extended board below the cage lets big woodpeckers brace on their tails the way they do on a trunk. |
| 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. |
| Hopper feeder | Sunflower, safflower, mixes | Poor unless weight-activated or baffled | A house-shaped reservoir with a wide ledge. The best all-round feeder for cardinals. |
Feeders red-bellied woodpeckers use, budget to premium
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What seed do red-bellied 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 |
| Black oil sunflower | High oil content and a thin shell make it the widest-appeal seed there is. Most feeder birds in most of North America eat it. | Keeps well for months in a sealed metal can |
Food to buy for red-bellied woodpeckers
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Where and when should you feed red-bellied woodpeckers?
- Height and spot: 5 feet or on a trunk.
- When: Year round.
- Range: Eastern US.
- Feeding style: Feeds at hanging feeders; a pole with a baffle keeps squirrels off without bothering them.
The same setup also brings cardinals, blue jays, house finches, chickadees and titmice, which use the same feeder types.
Nesting: Red-bellied woodpeckers use nest boxes. See the Red-bellied Woodpecker house dimensions: 6 x 6 inch floor, 2 1/2 in hole, mounted 10 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 · Downy Woodpeckers · Cedar Waxwings · Quail
Get the red-bellied woodpeckers feeding checklist
Feeder, seed, height and cleaning schedule for red-bellied woodpeckers on one printable page.
Used only to send the checklist.Frequently asked questions
What is the best bird feeder for red-bellied woodpeckers?
A tail-prop suet feeder is the most reliable choice for red-bellied woodpeckers. A large woodpecker that needs a tail-prop suet feeder and eats peanuts, suet and even oranges. Pair it with suet and suet dough, place it 5 feet or on a trunk, 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 red-bellied woodpeckers eat at feeders?
In order of preference: suet and suet dough, shelled peanuts and black oil sunflower. 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 red-bellied woodpeckers?
5 feet or on a trunk. 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 red-bellied woodpeckers can reach cover without cats being able to ambush them.
When do red-bellied woodpeckers come to feeders?
Year round. Range: Eastern US. Keep feeders stocked and clean through the season red-bellied woodpeckers are present in your area, since a feeder that is empty for several days is often abandoned for a neighbour's.
Do red-bellied woodpeckers use birdhouses?
Yes. Red-bellied woodpeckers are cavity nesters and will use a nest box built to their dimensions: a 6 x 6 inch floor and a 2 1/2 in entrance, mounted 10 to 20 feet up. See the dedicated box page for placement.