Red-bellied Woodpecker in September
Where red-bellied woodpeckers are in September, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
September in the Red-bellied Woodpecker's year
September is the peak of fall migration. Huge numbers of birds move south on cold fronts, mixed flocks form, and summer residents slip away almost unnoticed. Young birds making their first migration appear in places the species rarely visits.
For the Red-bellied Woodpecker specifically, September is a fall 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 September
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In September, 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 September
Red-bellied woodpeckers are not nesting in September. The season runs April–July at mid-latitudes.
That makes September 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 September
- Beetle larvae, ants and grasshoppers
A bold feeder visitor that also takes nectar and oranges. Cache-stores nuts in bark crevices.
Migrants passing through may stop at feeders for a day and never return — September rewards watching closely. Natural seed and fruit crops are abundant, so feeder traffic can be uneven.
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 September, 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 September?
In September, 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 September?
No — red-bellied woodpeckers typically nest April through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-bellied woodpeckers eat in September?
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.