Red-bellied Woodpecker in August
Where red-bellied woodpeckers are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Red-bellied 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 Red-bellied 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 red-bellied woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-bellied woodpeckers are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, red-bellied 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
Red-bellied woodpeckers are not nesting in August. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
That makes August 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 August
- Beetle larvae, ants and grasshoppers
A bold feeder visitor that also takes nectar and oranges. Cache-stores nuts in bark crevices.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Red-bellied Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for red-bellied woodpeckers →
Watching red-bellied woodpeckers this month
Red-bellied 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.
If you have a Red-bellied 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.
Red-bellied Woodpecker month by month
Red-bellied Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-bellied woodpeckers in August?
In August, red-bellied woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-bellied woodpeckers nest in August?
No — red-bellied woodpeckers typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-bellied woodpeckers eat in August?
Beetle larvae, ants and grasshoppers.
Sources
- Red-bellied Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-bellied Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-bellied 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.