Prince Edward Island · Year-round resident

Hairy Woodpeckers in Prince Edward Island

When hairy woodpeckers are present in Prince Edward Island, when they nest, which native Prince Edward Island plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 4b–5b yard.

Woodpeckers (Picidae)Hairy WoodpeckerDryobates villosus

Status in Prince Edward Island: Year-round resident
Nesting window: May–June
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: Canada 4b–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 Prince Edward Island

Hairy Woodpeckers live in Prince Edward Island all year. Snowy winters with sea ice offshore. 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 moderated by the Gulf of St. Lawrence; mostly farmland and mixed woods.

Nesting in Prince Edward Island

Across Prince Edward Island, 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 Prince Edward Island plants that attract hairy woodpeckers

Of the regional native plants we track for Prince Edward Island, these 8 provide food or cover hairy woodpeckers use:

Eastern white pine

Pinus strobus · Tree

Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera · Tree

Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Red maple

Acer rubrum · Tree

Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Balsam fir

Abies balsamea · Tree

Spruce-budworm habitat and dense winter roosting cover.

White spruce

Picea glauca · Tree

Cone crops drive winter irruptions of finches and crossbills.

Tamarack

Larix laricina · Tree

Deciduous conifer with small cones for siskins and redpolls.

Feeding hairy woodpeckers through the Prince Edward Island 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 Prince Edward Island's winter: Snowy winters with sea ice offshore.

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

Frequently asked

Are hairy woodpeckers in Prince Edward Island year-round?

Yes. Hairy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Prince Edward Island.

When do hairy woodpeckers nest in Prince Edward Island?

Nesting in Prince Edward Island 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 Prince Edward Island?

Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Red maple, Chokecherry, Balsam fir, White spruce, Tamarack are native plants in Prince Edward Island 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.