Downy Woodpeckers in Montana
When downy woodpeckers are present in Montana, when they nest, which native Montana plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–6a yard.
- Status in Montana
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–6a
- 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 Montana
Downy Woodpeckers live in Montana all year. Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws. 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.
Continental — Rocky Mountain forest in the west, semi-arid Great Plains in the east.
Nesting in Montana
Across Montana, downy woodpeckers typically nest from May–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 summers and a short growing season.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — 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 Montana plants that attract downy woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Montana, these 8 provide food or cover downy woodpeckers use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.
Feeding downy woodpeckers through the Montana 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 Montana's winter: Very cold winters on the plains, with chinook winds bringing sudden thaws.
Full diet breakdown for downy woodpeckers · Best feeder for downy woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are downy woodpeckers in Montana year-round?
Yes. Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Montana.
When do downy woodpeckers nest in Montana?
Nesting in Montana typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–8 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract downy woodpeckers in Montana?
Bur oak, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Chokecherry, Common hackberry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir are native plants in Montana 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 Montana
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 — Montana
- 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.