Black-backed Woodpecker in August
Where black-backed woodpeckers are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Black-backed Woodpecker's year
August feels like summer but the year has turned. Southbound migration is quietly underway, many adults are molting into fresh plumage, and family groups are breaking up. Late nesters are still feeding young in the North while southern birds are already drifting toward wintering grounds.
For the Black-backed Woodpecker specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 34 states and provinces where black-backed woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where black-backed woodpeckers are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, black-backed woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across the mid-latitudes, and absent in the northern states and Canada. That north–south split is the defining feature of this month: where you live changes which version of this bird you're looking at.
Nesting in August
Black-backed woodpeckers are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, black-backed woodpeckers put their energy into feeding and flocking rather than territory and young — which is exactly what makes them easier to watch and attract this month.
What to feed in August
- Wood-boring beetle larvae in fire-killed trees
A fire specialist — flocks move into burns within a year and leave as the beetles run out.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Black-backed Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for black-backed woodpeckers →
Watching black-backed woodpeckers this month
Black-backed woodpeckers are settled and predictable in August, which makes this a good month to learn the bird's routine — same feeders, same perches, same times of day.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region black-backed woodpeckers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Black-backed Woodpecker month by month
Black-backed Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are black-backed woodpeckers in August?
In August, black-backed woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do black-backed woodpeckers nest in August?
No — black-backed woodpeckers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do black-backed woodpeckers eat in August?
Wood-boring beetle larvae in fire-killed trees.
Sources
- Black-backed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-backed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Black-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.