Red-cockaded Woodpecker in July
Where red-cockaded woodpeckers are in July, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
July in the Red-cockaded Woodpecker's year
July is the quietest month for bird song but one of the busiest for bird life. Many species are on second broods, young birds from first broods are independent, and natural food — insects, ripening fruit and seeds — is abundant. In the far South the first southbound shorebirds are already moving.
For the Red-cockaded Woodpecker specifically, July is a summer month of relative routine, with the species settled into its seasonal pattern across its range. Across the 10 states and provinces where red-cockaded woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-cockaded woodpeckers are in July
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In July, red-cockaded 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 July
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are not nesting in July. The season runs April–June at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, red-cockaded 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 July
- Ants, roaches, beetles and wood-boring larvae
Federally endangered. It excavates cavities in living pines infected with red heart fungus and lives in family groups.
Feeder traffic often dips as natural food peaks, but water becomes the big draw — a clean birdbath outpulls seed in hot weather.
Full Red-cockaded Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for red-cockaded woodpeckers →
Watching red-cockaded woodpeckers this month
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are settled and predictable in July, 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 red-cockaded woodpeckers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Red-cockaded Woodpecker month by month
Red-cockaded Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-cockaded woodpeckers in July?
In July, red-cockaded woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-cockaded woodpeckers nest in July?
No — red-cockaded woodpeckers typically nest April through June at mid-latitudes.
What do red-cockaded woodpeckers eat in July?
Ants, roaches, beetles and wood-boring larvae.
Sources
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-cockaded 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.