Nuttall's Woodpeckers in California
When Nuttall's 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 Nuttall's woodpeckers in California
Nuttall's 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; some seed.
Mediterranean along the coast and Central Valley, alpine in the Sierra Nevada, and desert in the southeast.
Nesting in California
Across California, Nuttall's woodpeckers typically nest from March–June. Nest site: cavity in willows, cottonwoods or oaks. Females lay 3–6 eggs, incubate for 14 days, and young leave the nest after about 29 days.
Dry summers with little rain from May to October; water and summer-blooming natives matter more than extra seed.
- Nuttall's 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 Nuttall's woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for California, these 8 provide food or cover Nuttall's 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 Nuttall's woodpeckers through the California year
A California oak-woodland specialist.
- 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 Nuttall's woodpeckers · Best feeder for Nuttall's woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are Nuttall's woodpeckers in California year-round?
Yes. Nuttall's Woodpeckers are year-round residents in California.
When do Nuttall's woodpeckers nest in California?
Nesting in California typically runs March–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–6 eggs, incubated for 14 days.
What native plants attract Nuttall's 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 Nuttall's woodpeckers.
Other backyard birds in California
Sources
- Nuttall's Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Nuttall's Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Nuttall's 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.