Red-headed Woodpecker in August
Where red-headed woodpeckers are in August, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
August in the Red-headed 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-headed 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-headed woodpeckers occur, what the bird is doing this month depends heavily on latitude — the details below break it down by band.
Where red-headed woodpeckers are in August
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In August, red-headed 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-headed woodpeckers are not nesting in August. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes, and up to a month later in the North.
Outside the nesting season, red-headed 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 August
- Flying insects and beetles
A declining open-woodland species that visits yards with large dead limbs left standing.
Molting birds look scruffy and often skulk — don't be surprised if familiar visitors briefly vanish. Keep water fresh in the heat.
Full Red-headed Woodpecker diet guide → · Best feeder for red-headed woodpeckers →
Watching red-headed woodpeckers this month
Red-headed 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.
The state guides below show exactly where in your region red-headed woodpeckers are expected this month and which native plants hold them in a yard.
Red-headed Woodpecker month by month
Red-headed Woodpecker by state
Frequently asked
Where are red-headed woodpeckers in August?
In August, red-headed woodpeckers are absent in the South, year-round resident across mid-latitudes and absent in the North.
Do red-headed woodpeckers nest in August?
No — red-headed woodpeckers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-headed woodpeckers eat in August?
Flying insects and beetles.
Sources
- Red-headed Woodpecker — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-headed Woodpecker life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Red-headed 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.