Diet
What do gila woodpeckers eat?
Insects, cactus fruit and nectar.
Woodpeckers (Picidae)Gila WoodpeckerMelanerpes uropygialis
Spring and summer diet
- Insects and saguaro fruit
Fall and winter diet
- Mistletoe berries and feeders
Best feeder foods
- Suet
- Oranges
- Nectar
- Sunflower
Excavates saguaro cavities later used by owls, flycatchers and martins; visits hummingbird and oriole feeders.
Where gila woodpeckers need winter food
Regions where gila woodpeckers are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do gila woodpeckers eat?
Insects, cactus fruit and nectar.
What is the best food to feed gila woodpeckers?
Suet, Oranges, Nectar, Sunflower.
What do gila woodpeckers eat in winter?
Mistletoe berries and feeders.
Sources
- Gila Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gila Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Gila 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.