Acorn Woodpecker
A highly social oak-woodland woodpecker whose family groups store acorns and excavate cavities for nesting and roosting.
By Birdly Yard Editorial TeamReviewed Updated
Local season
Months with a state-level historical signal for this species.
Status
Historical seasonal record
Look for it
Listen for loud calls in open oak or pine-oak woodland, then scan large trees for a granary trunk filled with acorns.
Food
Acorns, insects, other arthropods, fruit, sap, nectar, and occasional seeds; flying insects can be especially important when available.
Nesting
Natural nesting guidance
One useful next step
Build for the habitat, not just the feeder.
Open oak and pine-oak woodland, streamside forest, urban parks, and suburban areas where mature oaks are present nearby.
See the yard actionsA good yard is layered
Food helps, but cover, clean water, native plants, and a safe distance from hazards make a more dependable place for birds.
Acorn Woodpecker habitat
Open oak and pine-oak woodland, streamside forest, urban parks, and suburban areas where mature oaks are present nearby.
Acorn Woodpecker diet and food
Acorns, insects, other arthropods, fruit, sap, nectar, and occasional seeds; flying insects can be especially important when available.
Seed or suet may be used near oak habitat, but retaining healthy oaks and natural insect habitat is much more valuable.
How to attract it
Food & feeder
Acorns, insects, other arthropods, fruit, sap, nectar, and occasional seeds; flying insects can be especially important when available.
Cover & plants
Open oak and pine-oak woodland, streamside forest, urban parks, and suburban areas where mature oaks are present nearby.
Acorn Woodpecker nesting and breeding
Excavates multiple cavities in large limbs or trees; groups may reuse nest holes for years and use others for roosting.
Acorn Woodpecker behavior and where to look
Family groups defend a granary tree, storing acorns in drilled holes and often sharing roosts and care of young.
Photography
Stay outside the core granary or nest area and photograph from a public trail or quiet yard edge.
What to avoid
Do not seal or disturb an active cavity; protect vulnerable wood siding before a storage problem develops.
Continue exploring
Explore related bird guides
Compare food, habitat and nesting. Local seasonal records vary by species.
