Woodpeckers are fascinating birds known for their striking plumage and distinctive drumming sounds. While there are over 200 species of woodpeckers worldwide, the British Isles is home to just three: the green woodpecker, great spotted woodpecker, and lesser spotted woodpecker.
If you want to attract these beautiful birds to your garden, providing the right food and creating a suitable environment can significantly increase your chances. Here’s how you can make your garden a haven for woodpeckers.
Provide the Right Food in the Right Place
Green Woodpeckers: Ground Feeders
If you’ve spotted a green woodpecker in your garden, it was likely hopping across the lawn. That’s because their primary food source is ants, which they dig up using their long, sticky tongue. However, during winter, when ants are scarce, they rely on nuts, mealworms, and suet for energy.
A great option is a high-energy wild bird seed mix that includes:
- Maize
- Sunflower hearts
- Oats
- Peanuts
- Beef suet pellets (for extra fat and protein)
Great Spotted & Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers: Tree Feeders
These woodpeckers are more likely to visit bird tables and feeders, where they enjoy peanuts and suet. They have a unique way of feeding, often hanging upside down while pecking at food.
Tips for Feeding Woodpeckers:
Use a separate feeder for woodpeckers, away from other bird feeders.
Choose quiet spots to prevent shyer woodpeckers from being scared off by songbirds.
Opt for suet-based food as it provides essential energy, especially in winter.
Create a Natural Environment for Woodpeckers
Trees & Nesting Spaces
Woodpeckers get their name from their habit of pecking at tree trunks to find food and create nesting holes. If your garden has mature trees, woodpeckers are more likely to visit and even stay.
If you don’t have large trees, consider:
Planting established trees so they grow quickly.
Providing dead logs or branches where insects can thrive, offering a natural food source.
Add a Second Bird Bath
Since woodpeckers can be shy, they may avoid a crowded bird bath. Setting up a second, quieter water source can encourage them to visit your garden.
Attracting woodpeckers to your garden requires a combination of the right food, a peaceful feeding spot, and a natural habitat. By offering high-energy food like suet and nuts, providing trees or deadwood, and setting up a separate bird bath, you can turn your garden into a welcoming space for these incredible birds.
With a little patience and effort, you might soon enjoy the sight of green, great spotted, or lesser spotted woodpeckers visiting your outdoor space!
FAQ’s
What type of food attracts woodpeckers?
Woodpeckers are attracted to suet, peanuts, sunflower hearts, mealworms, and high-energy seed mixes. Green woodpeckers also feed on ants.
Where should I place a woodpecker feeder?
Woodpecker feeders should be placed in quiet areas, away from other bird feeders, as woodpeckers are shy and prefer less competition.
Do woodpeckers nest in gardens?
Yes, if your garden has mature trees or deadwood, woodpeckers may nest there. Planting trees or leaving logs can encourage them to stay.
Why do green woodpeckers prefer feeding on the ground?
Green woodpeckers mainly eat ants, which they find in lawns and soil. They use their long, sticky tongue to extract ants from the ground.
How can I make my garden more woodpecker-friendly?
Provide suet and nut feeders, plant trees, leave deadwood for insects, and set up a quiet bird bath to attract woodpeckers to your garden.
