Diet
What do ladder-backed woodpeckers eat?
Insects from cacti, mesquite and yucca.
Woodpeckers (Picidae)Ladder-backed WoodpeckerDryobates scalaris
Spring and summer diet
- Beetle larvae and ants
Fall and winter diet
- Insects
Best feeder foods
- Suet
A desert woodpecker of mesquite and cactus; small and quiet.
Where ladder-backed woodpeckers need winter food
Regions where ladder-backed woodpeckers are present in the cold months:
Frequently asked
What do ladder-backed woodpeckers eat?
Insects from cacti, mesquite and yucca.
What is the best food to feed ladder-backed woodpeckers?
Suet.
What do ladder-backed woodpeckers eat in winter?
Insects.
Sources
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Ladder-backed 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.