Hairy Woodpeckers in Utah
When hairy woodpeckers are present in Utah, when they nest, which native Utah plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.
- Status in Utah
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–9a
- 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 Utah
Hairy Woodpeckers live in Utah all year. Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards. 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.
Semi-arid to arid, with the Wasatch Range rising above the Great Basin and red-rock canyon country in the south.
Nesting in Utah
Across Utah, hairy woodpeckers typically nest from April–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.
Hot, dry summers.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — 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 Utah plants that attract hairy woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Utah, these 8 provide food or cover hairy woodpeckers use:
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.
Catkin seed for redpolls on the tundra.
Feeding hairy woodpeckers through the Utah 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 Utah's winter: Cold winters with valley inversions; mountain birds descend to backyards.
Full diet breakdown for hairy woodpeckers · Best feeder for hairy woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are hairy woodpeckers in Utah year-round?
Yes. Hairy Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Utah.
When do hairy woodpeckers nest in Utah?
Nesting in Utah typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 11–15 days.
What native plants attract hairy woodpeckers in Utah?
Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb), Dwarf birch are native plants in Utah 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.
Hairy Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Utah
Sources
- Hairy Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Hairy Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Hairy Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — Utah
- 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.