Red-headed Woodpeckers in Wisconsin
When red-headed 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
- Summer breeder
- Nesting window
- June–July
- Broods
- 1–2 per season
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 3b–6a
When to expect red-headed woodpeckers in Wisconsin
Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer residents in Wisconsin, arriving shortly before nesting begins in June and leaving after the young are independent. Through the season they feed on flying insects and beetles.
Humid continental, with two Great Lakes shorelines, northern forest and southern prairie-oak savanna.
Nesting in Wisconsin
Across Wisconsin, 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.
Warm, humid summers.
- Red-headed Woodpeckers don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as serviceberry, white oak, bur oak for nest sites.
- Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.
Native Wisconsin plants that attract red-headed woodpeckers
Of the regional native plants we track for Wisconsin, these 8 provide food or cover red-headed woodpeckers use:
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.
Lipid-rich red fruit fuels fall migrants.
Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.
Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.
Feeding red-headed woodpeckers through the Wisconsin year
A declining open-woodland species that visits yards with large dead limbs left standing.
- Best foods: Suet, Peanuts, Sunflower.
- In Wisconsin'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 Wisconsin year-round?
No. Red-headed Woodpeckers are summer breeders in Wisconsin and leave for the winter.
When do red-headed woodpeckers nest in Wisconsin?
Nesting in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Serviceberry, White oak, Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, Spicebush, New England aster, Tall goldenrod are native plants in Wisconsin that provide food or cover for red-headed woodpeckers.
Red-headed Woodpeckers in other regions
Other backyard birds in Wisconsin
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 — 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.