Downy Woodpeckers in Colorado
When downy woodpeckers are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
- Nest box
- 1 1/4 in round hole, 4 × 4 in floor, 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings
When to expect downy woodpeckers in Colorado
Downy Woodpeckers live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insect larvae in goldenrod galls and bark; suet, peanuts and sunflower at feeders.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, downy woodpeckers typically nest from April–June. Nest site: excavates its own cavity in dead wood; uses roost boxes in winter. Females lay 3–8 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 18–21 days.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — downy woodpeckers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 1 1/4 in round entrance on a 4 × 4 in floor, mounted 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after June.
Native Colorado plants that attract downy woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover downy woodpeckers use:
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Acorns for jays and woodpeckers across the southern Rockies.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Early catkins draw insects for arriving warblers and hummingbirds.
Feeding downy woodpeckers through the Colorado year
The smallest North American woodpecker and the most frequent at feeders. A tail-prop suet feeder gives them a natural feeding posture.
- Best foods: Suet, Shelled peanuts, Black-oil sunflower, Hulled sunflower.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for downy woodpeckers · Best feeder for downy woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are downy woodpeckers in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do downy woodpeckers nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–8 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract downy woodpeckers in Colorado?
New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for downy woodpeckers.
What size birdhouse hole do downy woodpeckers need?
1 1/4 in round, with a floor of 4 × 4 in mounted 5–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings.
Downy Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
Sources
- Downy Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Downy Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Downy Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Colorado
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.