Red-cockaded Woodpecker in March
Where red-cockaded woodpeckers are in March, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
March in the Red-cockaded Woodpecker's year
March is a month of transition. Winter visitors begin drifting north, the first spring migrants appear in the South, and resident birds are in full song. Weather swings hard — a warm week can push migration early, and a late blizzard can catch migrants short of food.
For the Red-cockaded Woodpecker specifically, March is a spring 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 March
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In March, 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 March
Red-cockaded woodpeckers are not nesting in March. The season runs April–June at mid-latitudes, starting roughly a month earlier in the South.
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 March
- Bark insects and pine seeds
Federally endangered. It excavates cavities in living pines infected with red heart fungus and lives in family groups.
Migration brings new faces to feeders. Keep seed fresh and watch for birds passing through that you won't see again until fall.
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 March, 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 March?
In March, 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 March?
No — red-cockaded woodpeckers typically nest April through June at mid-latitudes.
What do red-cockaded woodpeckers eat in March?
Bark insects and pine seeds.
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.