Pileated Woodpeckers in New Brunswick
When pileated woodpeckers are present in New Brunswick, when they nest, which native New Brunswick plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 3a–5b yard.
- Status in New Brunswick
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 3a–5b
When to expect pileated woodpeckers in New Brunswick
Pileated Woodpeckers live in New Brunswick all year. Cold, snowy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward beetle larvae, sumac and holly fruit.
Humid continental with Bay of Fundy and Gulf of St. Lawrence coastlines and extensive forest.
Nesting in New Brunswick
Across New Brunswick, pileated woodpeckers typically nest from May–June. Nest site: large excavated cavity in dead trees. Females lay 3–5 eggs, incubate for 15–18 days, and young leave the nest after 24–31 days.
Mild summers.
- Pileated Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, winterberry, staghorn sumac for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native New Brunswick plants that attract pileated woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for New Brunswick, these 8 provide food or cover pileated woodpeckers use:
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Fruit clusters persist all winter as emergency food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Blue fruit on red stems in early fall.
Feeding pileated woodpeckers through the New Brunswick year
Pileateds visit backyards near mature woods and use large tail-prop suet feeders.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In New Brunswick's winter: Cold, snowy winters.
Full diet breakdown for pileated woodpeckers · Best feeder for pileated woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are pileated woodpeckers in New Brunswick year-round?
Yes. Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents in New Brunswick.
When do pileated woodpeckers nest in New Brunswick?
Nesting in New Brunswick typically runs May–June, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–5 eggs, incubated for 15–18 days.
What native plants attract pileated woodpeckers in New Brunswick?
Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Virginia creeper are native plants in New Brunswick that provide food or cover for pileated woodpeckers.
Pileated Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in New Brunswick
Sources
- Pileated Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pileated Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pileated Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New Brunswick
- Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
- 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.