Black-backed Woodpecker in March
Where black-backed woodpeckers are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Black-backed Woodpecker's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Black-backed Woodpecker specifically, March is a spring 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 March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, 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 March
Black-backed woodpeckers are not nesting in March. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
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 March
- Beetle larvae under bark
A fire specialist — flocks move into burns within a year and leave as the beetles run out.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
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 March, 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 March?
In March, 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 March?
No — black-backed woodpeckers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do black-backed woodpeckers eat in March?
Beetle larvae under bark.
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.