Pileated Woodpeckers in Newfoundland and Labrador
When pileated woodpeckers are present in Newfoundland and Labrador, when they nest, which native Newfoundland and Labrador plants feed them, and how to host them in a Canada 0a–6b yard.
- Status in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- Canada 0a–6b
When to expect pileated woodpeckers in Newfoundland and Labrador
Pileated Woodpeckers live in Newfoundland and Labrador all year. Long, snowy, windy 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.
Cool maritime on the island of Newfoundland; subarctic in Labrador.
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador
Across Newfoundland and Labrador, 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.
Cool summers; nesting often starts in June.
- Pileated Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as winterberry, eastern white pine, paper birch for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Newfoundland and Labrador plants that attract pileated woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Newfoundland and Labrador, these 8 provide food or cover pileated woodpeckers use:
Deciduous holly holding red fruit into mid-winter.
Seed-rich cones and year-round shelter.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Among the first spring bloomers; early insects for returning migrants.
Fast-growing northern cherry with midsummer fruit.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
White fruit and red winter stems; good thicket cover.
Red fruit persists until late winter when other food is gone.
Feeding pileated woodpeckers through the Newfoundland and Labrador year
Pileateds visit backyards near mature woods and use large tail-prop suet feeders.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Newfoundland and Labrador's winter: Long, snowy, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for pileated woodpeckers · Best feeder for pileated woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are pileated woodpeckers in Newfoundland and Labrador year-round?
Yes. Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Newfoundland and Labrador.
When do pileated woodpeckers nest in Newfoundland and Labrador?
Nesting in Newfoundland and Labrador 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 Newfoundland and Labrador?
Winterberry, Eastern white pine, Paper birch, Red maple, Pin cherry, Chokecherry, Red-osier dogwood, Highbush cranberry are native plants in Newfoundland and Labrador that provide food or cover for pileated woodpeckers.
Pileated Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Newfoundland and Labrador
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 — Newfoundland and Labrador
- 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.