Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in Nevada
When ladder-backed woodpeckers are present in Nevada, when they nest, which native Nevada plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–10a yard.
- Status in Nevada
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 4a–10a
When to expect ladder-backed woodpeckers in Nevada
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers live in Nevada all year. Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward insects.
Great Basin cold desert in the north and Mojave hot desert around Las Vegas.
Nesting in Nevada
Across Nevada, 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.
Very hot, dry summers; water is the top attractant.
- 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 Nevada plants that attract ladder-backed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Nevada, these 7 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.
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 Nevada year
A desert woodpecker of mesquite and cactus; small and quiet.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Nevada's winter: Cold, dry winters in Reno and the north; mild winters in the south.
Full diet breakdown for ladder-backed woodpeckers · Best feeder for ladder-backed woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are ladder-backed woodpeckers in Nevada year-round?
Yes. Ladder-backed Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Nevada.
When do ladder-backed woodpeckers nest in Nevada?
Nesting in Nevada 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 Nevada?
Tall goldenrod, Chokecherry, Ponderosa pine, Gambel oak, Rabbitbrush, Douglas fir, Willow (Bebb) are native plants in Nevada that provide food or cover for ladder-backed woodpeckers.
Ladder-backed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Nevada
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 — Nevada
- 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.