Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in California
When ladder-backed woodpeckers are present in California, when they nest, which native California plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 5a–11a yard.
- Status in California
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- March–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 5a–11a
When to expect ladder-backed woodpeckers in California
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers live in California all year. Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, ladder-backed woodpeckers typically nest from March–June. Nest site: cavity in yucca, agave or mesquite. Females lay 2–7 eggs, incubate for 13 days, and young leave the nest after about 20 days.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Ladder-backed Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, rabbitbrush for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native California plants that attract ladder-backed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover ladder-backed 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.
Late-season bloom supports insects; seed for sparrows.
Seed pods and insect-rich spring bloom.
Seed pods and cover for Verdins and quail.
Acorns anchor Acorn Woodpecker granaries and scrub-jay caches.
Acorns and a rich insect community in the Pacific Northwest.
Feeding ladder-backed woodpeckers through the California year
A desert woodpecker of mesquite and cactus; small and quiet.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In California's winter: Wet, mild winters are the green season — the busiest time at coastal feeders as sparrows and hummingbirds settle in.
Full diet breakdown for ladder-backed woodpeckers · Best feeder for ladder-backed woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are ladder-backed woodpeckers in California year-round?
Yes. Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are year-round residents in California.
When do ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 13 days.
What native plants attract ladder-backed woodpeckers in California?
Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Rabbitbrush, Palo verde, Velvet mesquite, Coast live oak, Oregon white oak are native plants in California that provide food or cover for ladder-backed woodpeckers.
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — California
- 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.