Pileated Woodpeckers in Wisconsin
When pileated woodpeckers are present in Wisconsin, when they nest, which native Wisconsin plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–6a yard.
- Status in Wisconsin
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- May–June
- Broods
- 1 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect pileated woodpeckers in Wisconsin
Pileated Woodpeckers live in Wisconsin all year. Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north. 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 two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Nesting in Wisconsin
Across Wisconsin, 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.
Warm, humid summers.
- Pileated Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as eastern red cedar, serviceberry, winterberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after June.
Native Wisconsin plants that attract pileated woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Wisconsin, these 8 provide food or cover pileated woodpeckers use:
Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.
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.
Red fruit heads hang on through winter.
Acorns plus hundreds of caterpillar species for nestling food.
Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.
Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.
Feeding pileated woodpeckers through the Wisconsin year
Pileateds visit backyards near mature woods and use large tail-prop suet feeders.
- Best foods: Suet.
- In Wisconsin's winter: Cold, snowy winters; boreal finches visit the north.
Full diet breakdown for pileated woodpeckers · Best feeder for pileated woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are pileated woodpeckers in Wisconsin year-round?
Yes. Pileated Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Wisconsin.
When do pileated woodpeckers nest in Wisconsin?
Nesting in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Eastern red cedar, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Staghorn sumac, Smooth sumac, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for pileated woodpeckers.
Pileated Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wisconsin
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 — Wisconsin
- 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.