Red-headed Woodpeckers in New York
When red-headed woodpeckers are present in New York, when they nest, which native New York plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–7b yard.
- Status in New York
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- May–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–7b
When to expect red-headed woodpeckers in New York
Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer residents in New York, arriving shortly before nesting begins in May and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flying insects and beetles.
Humid continental, from cold Adirondack highlands to the maritime-moderated coast of Long Island.
Nesting in New York
Across New York, red-headed woodpeckers typically nest from May–July. Nest site: cavity in dead trees or limbs. Females lay 3–10 eggs, incubate for 12–14 days, and young leave the nest after 24–31 days.
Warm summers with a shorter nesting season upstate than downstate.
- Red-headed Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as arrowwood viburnum, eastern white pine, flowering dogwood for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native New York plants that attract red-headed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for New York, these 8 provide food or cover red-headed woodpeckers use:
Blue-black fall fruit and insect cover.
Seeds and year-round shelter.
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.
Feeding red-headed woodpeckers through the New York year
A declining open-woodland species that visits yards with large dead limbs left standing.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Sunflower.
- In New York's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.
Full diet breakdown for red-headed woodpeckers · Best feeder for red-headed woodpeckers
Frequently asked
Are red-headed woodpeckers in New York year-round?
No. Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer breeders in New York and leave for the winter.
When do red-headed woodpeckers nest in New York?
Nesting in New York typically runs May–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–10 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract red-headed woodpeckers in New York?
Arrowwood viburnum, Eastern white pine, Flowering dogwood, Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry are native plants in New York that provide food or cover for red-headed woodpeckers.
Red-headed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in New York
Sources
- Red-headed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-headed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-headed Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- eBird region overview and bar charts — New York
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
- Audubon Native Plants Database
- New York Breeding Bird Atlas III
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.