Washington · Year-round resident

White-headed Woodpeckers in Washington

When white-headed woodpeckers are present in Washington, when they nest, which native Washington plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 4a–9a yard.

Woodpeckers (Picidae)White-headed WoodpeckerDryobates albolarvatus

Status in Washington: Year-round resident
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 4a–9a
Nest box: 1 1/2 in hole, 6 × 6 in floor, 10–20 ft

When to expect white-headed woodpeckers in Washington

White-headed Woodpeckers live in Washington all year. Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east. That makes the cold months the time your yard matters most to them.

Marine west-coast climate west of the Cascades, semi-arid shrub-steppe to the east.

Nesting in Washington

Across Washington, white-headed woodpeckers typically nest from April–July. Plan around that window: March for setup, July for clean-out.

Dry, sunny summers west of the Cascades; hot in the Columbia Basin.

Have boxes cleaned and mounted before March — white-headed woodpeckers begin prospecting ahead of egg-laying.
Use a 1 1/2 in entrance on a 6 × 6 in floor, mounted 10–20 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 Washington plants that attract white-headed woodpeckers

Of the regional native plants we track for Washington, these 3 provide food or cover white-headed woodpeckers use:

Rocky Mountain juniper

Juniperus scopulorum · Tree

Berry-like cones feed bluebirds, solitaires and waxwings in winter.

Ponderosa pine

Pinus ponderosa · Tree

Seeds and bark insects; pygmy nuthatch and woodpecker habitat.

Douglas fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii · Tree

Seed for crossbills, siskins and chickadees.

Feeding white-headed woodpeckers through the Washington year

Top foods: Suet, Black-oil sunflower.
In Washington's winter: Mild, wet winters on the Puget Sound; cold winters in the east.

Full diet breakdown for white-headed woodpeckers · Best feeder for white-headed woodpeckers

Frequently asked

Are white-headed woodpeckers in Washington year-round?

Yes. White-headed Woodpeckers are year-round residents in Washington.

When do white-headed woodpeckers nest in Washington?

Nesting in Washington typically runs April–July, with 1 per season. Clutches are 3–7 eggs, incubated for 14 days.

What native plants attract white-headed woodpeckers in Washington?

Rocky Mountain juniper, Ponderosa pine, Douglas fir are native plants in Washington that provide food or cover for white-headed woodpeckers.

What size birdhouse hole do white-headed woodpeckers need?

1 1/2 in, with a floor of 6 × 6 in mounted 10–20 ft.

White-headed Woodpeckers in other regions

British Columbia California Idaho Nevada Oregon

Other backyard birds in Washington

Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Purple Finch Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Northern Flicker Pileated Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Brown Creeper Red-winged Blackbird Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Gray Catbird Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Yellow-rumped Warbler Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bushtit Pygmy Nuthatch Anna's Hummingbird Black-chinned Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Finch Spotted Towhee California Quail Western Bluebird Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe Bewick's Wren White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Fox Sparrow Varied Thrush Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Brown-headed Cowbird Ruby-crowned Kinglet Golden-crowned Kinglet Hermit Thrush Winter Wren Pine Grosbeak Red Crossbill Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Green-tailed Towhee Clark's Nutcracker Western Screech-Owl Hooded Merganser Band-tailed Pigeon Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat Yellow-breasted Chat Orange-crowned Warbler Warbling Vireo Western Kingbird Ash-throated Flycatcher Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper Green Heron Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Lewis's Woodpecker Black-backed Woodpecker Savannah Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Common Redpoll Bohemian Waxwing Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.