Red-bellied Woodpecker in February
Where red-bellied woodpeckers are in February, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
February in the Red-bellied Woodpecker's year
February still feels like deep winter, but days are lengthening and the first stirrings of the breeding season begin — resident birds start singing on mild mornings and some early nesters are already claiming territories. Late-winter storms can be the hardest feeding days of the year.
For the Red-bellied Woodpecker specifically, February is a winter 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 February
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In February, 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 February
Red-bellied woodpeckers are not nesting in February. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes February 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 February
- Acorns, pecans, pine seeds and fruit
A bold feeder visitor that also takes nectar and oranges. Cache-stores nuts in bark crevices.
Don't let feeders run empty during late-winter storms; birds burn enormous energy staying warm. This is also the month to clean and repair nest boxes before early nesters move in.
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 February, 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 February?
In February, 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 February?
No — red-bellied woodpeckers typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-bellied woodpeckers eat in February?
Acorns, pecans, pine seeds and fruit.
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.