Downy Woodpeckers in North Dakota
When downy woodpeckers are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
- 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 North Dakota
Downy Woodpeckers live in North Dakota all year. Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic. 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 northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, 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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- 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 North Dakota plants that attract downy woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover downy woodpeckers use:
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding downy woodpeckers through the North Dakota 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 North Dakota's winter: Severe winters to −30°F; Snow Buntings and redpolls arrive from the Arctic.
Full diet breakdown for downy woodpeckers · Best feeder for downy woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are downy woodpeckers in North Dakota year-round?
Yes. Downy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in North Dakota.
When do downy woodpeckers nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–8 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract downy woodpeckers in North Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Chokecherry are native plants in North Dakota 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 North Dakota
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 — North Dakota
- 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.