All posts in Woodpecker Habitat & Behavior

Unlike bluebirds or orioles, whose ranges split fairly cleanly along east-west lines, most common backyard woodpecker species overlap broadly across nearly all of North America. Habitat quality — specifically the availability of dead and dying wood — matters more for these species than range alone….

This is the one place where woodpeckers stand apart from every other species. Bluebirds show partial migration. Orioles undertake a genuine long-distance migration to the tropics. Most common backyard woodpeckers do neither — they simply stay put. A Largely Resident Family Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and…

A cavity excavated directly into solid wood offers real protection compared to an open nest or even a wooden nest box, but it’s far from predator-proof — and one specific threat depends entirely on which species’ cavity size we’re talking about. Threats to Eggs and…