Lewis's Woodpecker in March
Where Lewis's woodpeckers are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Lewis's 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 Lewis's Woodpecker specifically, March is a spring month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 15 states and provinces where Lewis's woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where Lewis's woodpeckers are in March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, Lewis's 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
Lewis's woodpeckers are not nesting in March. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes March a useful month for nest-box work: cleaning out old nesting material, checking mounts and predator guards, and making repairs while boxes are empty. A box that's ready early gets claimed early.
What to feed in March
- Cached acorns and corn
The most flycatcher-like woodpecker; stores acorns in bark cracks and defends the larder all winter.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
Full Lewis's Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for Lewis's woodpeckers →
Watching Lewis's woodpeckers this month
Lewis's 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.
If you have a Lewis's Woodpecker box up, this is the month to make sure it's clean, secure and ready — the box guide below has the exact hole size and mounting height this species needs.
Lewis's Woodpecker month by month
Lewis's Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are Lewis's woodpeckers in March?
In March, Lewis's woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do Lewis's woodpeckers nest in March?
No — Lewis's woodpeckers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do Lewis's woodpeckers eat in March?
Cached acorns and corn.
Sources
- Lewis's Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lewis's Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Lewis's Woodpecker — Audubon Guide to North American Birds
- NestWatch nest box plans and species requirements — Cornell Lab
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.