Diet
What do American three-toed woodpeckers eat?
Bark beetles and their larvae in spruce forest.
Woodpeckers (Picidae)American Three-toed WoodpeckerPicoides dorsalis
Spring and summer diet
- Spruce bark beetles and larvae
Fall and winter diet
- Bark beetle larvae
Best feeder foods
- Suet (rarely, in mountain conifers)
Strips bark from spruces in slow, quiet patches; often in beetle-killed or burned stands.
Which feeder works best for American three-toed woodpeckers →
Where American three-toed woodpeckers need winter food
Regions where American three-toed woodpeckers are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do American three-toed woodpeckers eat?
Bark beetles and their larvae in spruce forest.
What is the best food to feed American three-toed woodpeckers?
Suet (rarely, in mountain conifers).
What do American three-toed woodpeckers eat in winter?
Bark beetle larvae.
Sources
- American Three-toed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Three-toed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- American Three-toed Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
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.