Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in Colorado
When ladder-backed woodpeckers are present in Colorado, when they nest, which native Colorado plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–7b yard.
- Status in Colorado
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–7b
When to expect ladder-backed woodpeckers in Colorado
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers live in Colorado all year. Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.
Semi-arid high plains in the east and the Rocky Mountains through the center, with most backyards between 5,000 and 7,000 ft.
Nesting in Colorado
Across Colorado, ladder-backed woodpeckers typically nest from April–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.
Warm, dry days and cool nights; afternoon storms are common in July and August.
- Ladder-backed Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as chokecherry, ponderosa pine, gambel oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Colorado plants that attract ladder-backed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Colorado, these 8 provide food or cover ladder-backed woodpeckers use:
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
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.
Feeding ladder-backed woodpeckers through the Colorado year
A desert woodpecker of mesquite and cactus; small and quiet.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Colorado's winter: Cold snaps alternate with sunny, dry thaws; heated baths are valuable because natural water freezes nightly.
Full diet breakdown for ladder-backed woodpeckers · Best feeder for ladder-backed woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are ladder-backed woodpeckers in Colorado year-round?
Yes. Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Colorado.
When do ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in Colorado?
Nesting in Colorado typically runs April–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 2–7 eggs, incubated for 13 days.
What native plants attract ladder-backed woodpeckers in Colorado?
New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Colorado that provide food or cover for ladder-backed woodpeckers.
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Colorado
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 — Colorado
- 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.