Acorn Woodpeckers in California

Acorn Woodpeckers live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward stored acorns.

Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.

Across California, acorn woodpeckers typically nest from March–June. Nest site: cavity in live or dead trees, shared by the group. Females lay 3–7 eggs, incubate for 11–14 days, and young leave the nest after 30–32 days.

Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.

• Acorn Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as coast live oak, oregon white oak for nest sites.
• Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.

Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 2 provide food or cover acorn woodpeckers use:

Lives in family groups that drill thousands of holes in one granary tree to store acorns.

• Best foods: Suet, Peanuts.
• In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.

Full diet breakdown for acorn woodpeckers · Best feeder for acorn woodpeckers