Red-bellied Woodpeckers in South Dakota
When red-bellied woodpeckers are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.
- Status in South Dakota
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–5b
- Nest box
- 2 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 12–20 ft
- Range note
- Southeastern corner.
When to expect red-bellied woodpeckers in South Dakota
Red-bellied Woodpeckers live in South Dakota all year — southeastern corner. Cold, windy winters. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward acorns, pecans, pine seeds and fruit.
Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.
Nesting in South Dakota
Across South Dakota, red-bellied woodpeckers typically nest from April–July. Nest site: excavated cavity in dead trees; occasionally large nest boxes. Females lay 4–5 eggs, incubate for 12 days, and young leave the nest after 22–27 days.
Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.
- Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — red-bellied woodpeckers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
- Use a 2 1/2 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 12–20 ft.
- Fit a pole baffle or hole guard; ventilation gaps and drainage holes are essential.
- Clean out old nests after each brood and again after July.
Native South Dakota plants that attract red-bellied woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover red-bellied woodpeckers use:
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.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.
Feeding red-bellied woodpeckers through the South Dakota year
A bold feeder visitor that also takes nectar and oranges. Cache-stores nuts in bark crevices.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Black-oil sunflower.
- In South Dakota's winter: Cold, windy winters.
Full diet breakdown for red-bellied woodpeckers · Best feeder for red-bellied woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are red-bellied woodpeckers in South Dakota year-round?
Yes. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are year-round residents in South Dakota. Southeastern corner.
When do red-bellied woodpeckers nest in South Dakota?
Nesting in South Dakota typically runs April–July, with 1–3 per season. Clutches are 4–5 eggs, incubated for 12 days.
What native plants attract red-bellied woodpeckers in South Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Chokecherry, Common hackberry are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for red-bellied woodpeckers.
What size birdhouse hole do red-bellied woodpeckers need?
2 1/2 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 12–20 ft.
Red-bellied Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in South Dakota
Sources
- Red-bellied Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-bellied Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-bellied Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
- eBird region overview and bar charts — South Dakota
- 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.