Red-headed Woodpeckers in North Dakota
When red-headed woodpeckers are present in North Dakota, when they nest, which native North Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3a–4b yard.
- Status in North Dakota
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3a–4b
When to expect red-headed woodpeckers in North Dakota
Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer residents in North Dakota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flying insects and beetles.
Continental northern prairie with prairie-pothole wetlands and the Missouri River breaks.
Nesting in North Dakota
Across North Dakota, red-headed woodpeckers typically nest from June–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.
Short, warm summers with a peak nesting season in June.
- Red-headed Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native North Dakota plants that attract red-headed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for North Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover red-headed 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.
Catkin seed feeds redpolls and siskins all winter.
Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.
Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.
Feeding red-headed woodpeckers through the North Dakota year
A declining open-woodland species that visits yards with large dead limbs left standing.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Sunflower.
- In North Dakota'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 North Dakota year-round?
No. Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer breeders in North Dakota and leave for the winter.
When do red-headed woodpeckers nest in North Dakota?
Nesting in North Dakota typically runs June–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 3–10 eggs, incubated for 12–14 days.
What native plants attract red-headed woodpeckers in North Dakota?
Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Paper birch, Sugar maple, Chokecherry are native plants in North Dakota that provide food or cover for red-headed woodpeckers.
Red-headed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in North Dakota
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 — North 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.