New Brunswick · Year-round resident

Hairy Woodpeckers in New Brunswick

When hairy woodpeckers are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.

Woodpeckers (Picidae)Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus

Status in New Brunswick: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 3a–5b
Nest box: 1 1/2 in round hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings

When to expect hairy woodpeckers in New Brunswick

Hairy Woodpeckers live in New Brunswick all year. Cold, snowy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward bark beetles and larvae; suet and peanuts at feeders.

Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.

Nesting in New Brunswick

Across New Brunswick, hairy woodpeckers typically nest from May–June. Nest site: excavates in dead or living trees with heart rot. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 11–15 days, and young leave the nest after 28–30 days.

Mild summers.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before April — hairy woodpeckers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 1 1/2 in round entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 8–20 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 New Brunswick plants that attract hairy woodpeckers

Of the regional native plants we track for New Brunswick, these 8 provide food or cover hairy woodpeckers use:

Serviceberry

Amelanchier arborea · Tree

Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

Arrowwood viburnum

Viburnum dentatum · Shrub

Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Feeding hairy woodpeckers through the New Brunswick year

Warier than Downy and more tied to mature trees. Expect visits mainly in colder months, on suet placed near large trunks.

Best foods: Suet, Shelled peanuts, Black-oil sunflower.
In New Brunswick's winter: Cold, snowy winters.

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

Frequently asked

Are hairy woodpeckers in New Brunswick year-round?

Yes. Hairy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in New Brunswick.

When do hairy woodpeckers nest in New Brunswick?

Nesting in New Brunswick typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 11–15 days.

What native plants attract hairy woodpeckers in New Brunswick?

Serviceberry, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Eastern white pine are native plants in New Brunswick that provide food or cover for hairy woodpeckers.

What size birdhouse hole do hairy woodpeckers need?

1 1/2 in round, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 8–20 ft, box packed with wood shavings.

Sources

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.