Red-bellied Woodpeckers in Tennessee
When red-bellied woodpeckers are present in Tennessee, when they nest, which native Tennessee plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 6a–8a yard.
- Status in Tennessee
- Year-round resident
- Nesting window
- April–July
- Broods
- 1–3 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 6a–8a
- Nest box
- 2 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 12–20 ft
When to expect red-bellied woodpeckers in Tennessee
Red-bellied Woodpeckers live in Tennessee all year. Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them: their winter diet shifts toward acorns, pecans, pine seeds and fruit.
Humid subtropical, from the Great Smoky Mountains to the Mississippi River floodplain.
Nesting in Tennessee
Across Tennessee, 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.
Hot, humid summers in the valleys.
- 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 Tennessee plants that attract red-bellied woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Tennessee, these 8 provide food or cover red-bellied woodpeckers use:
Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.
Early-summer berries arrive exactly when nestlings are being fed.
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.
Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.
Blue-black fall fruit and dense nesting cover.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Feeding red-bellied woodpeckers through the Tennessee 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 Tennessee's winter: Moderate winters; high elevations in the Smokies hold northern species year-round.
Full diet breakdown for red-bellied woodpeckers · Best feeder for red-bellied woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are red-bellied woodpeckers in Tennessee year-round?
Yes. Red-bellied Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Tennessee.
When do red-bellied woodpeckers nest in Tennessee?
Nesting in Tennessee 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 Tennessee?
Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Arrowwood viburnum, Spicebush are native plants in Tennessee 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 Tennessee
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 — Tennessee
- 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.