Red-headed Woodpecker in November
Where red-headed woodpeckers are in November, whether they are nesting, and the best foods to offer right now.
November in the Red-headed Woodpecker's year
November settles into the winter pattern. Migration tapers to the last hardy stragglers, winter flocks form and start roaming, and birds map out the reliable food sources in their territory. Cold snaps push sudden rushes of activity to feeders.
For the Red-headed Woodpecker specifically, November 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-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 November
- Southern states
- absent
- Mid-latitudes
- year-round resident
- Northern states & Canada
- absent
In November, 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 November
Red-headed woodpeckers are not nesting in November. The season runs May–July at mid-latitudes.
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 November
- Stored acorns and beechnuts
A declining open-woodland species that visits yards with large dead limbs left standing.
Winter flocks are forming their routes now — a feeder kept full from November onward becomes a regular stop.
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 November, 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 November?
In November, 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 November?
No — red-headed woodpeckers typically nest May through July at mid-latitudes.
What do red-headed woodpeckers eat in November?
Stored acorns and beechnuts.
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.