Pileated Woodpecker in August
Where pileated woodpeckers are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Pileated 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 Pileated Woodpecker specifically, August is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 50 states and provinces where pileated woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where pileated woodpeckers are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, pileated 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
Pileated woodpeckers are not nesting in August. The season runs April–June at mid-latitudes.
Outside the nesting season, pileated 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
- Carpenter ants
Pileateds visit backyards near mature woods and use large tail-prop suet feeders.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Pileated Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for pileated woodpeckers →
Watching pileated woodpeckers this month
Pileated 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 pileated woodpeckers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Pileated Woodpecker month by month
Pileated Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are pileated woodpeckers in August?
In August, pileated woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do pileated woodpeckers nest in August?
No — pileated woodpeckers typically nest April through June at mid-latitudes.
What do pileated woodpeckers eat in August?
Carpenter ants.
Sources
- Pileated Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pileated Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Pileated 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.