Downy Woodpecker Nesting (Behavior, Eggs, Location + FAQs)

Downy Woodpecker (Bamboo shoots) is the most commonly encountered North American woodpecker – and the smallest. These widespread birds are found in northern Alaska, across Canada and most of the lower 48 US states.

Downy woodpeckers are frequent visitors to backyards and are no strangers to bird feeders. Have you ever wondered where and how they nest?

Downy woodpeckers are cavity nesters. They usually dig their nests under sloping dead tree branches well above the ground. Both parents hatch and raise their four to six offspring together over the course of about four weeks.

Downy Woodpecker’s two partners dig the nest together, which can take days of hard work and a lot of searching to find the perfect spot.

They usually build a new nest each year, but they also use specially designed nest boxes where nesting trees are scarce.

This paper sheds light on the nesting behavior of downy woodpeckers. Read on to learn where, when and how these busy American birds raise their chicks.

Downy woodpeckers are burrow nesters

nest location

Downy woodpeckers don’t build typical bird nests. Instead, they dig a nest chamber in the decaying wood. Weatherproof, these rooms create a cozy home for growing chicks.

Read on to learn where downy woodpeckers nest

Where Do Downy Woodpeckers Nest?

Downy woodpeckers dig nests in tree trunks or broken limbs with a core of soft heartwood. They prefer to burrow under sloping branches. This way, the nest is accessed from below, preventing flooding.

Choosing a nesting site can take some time, and each parent must agree on a site before serious digging can begin. However, these industrious birds tend to make some mistakes before making their final selection.

Do downy woodpeckers nest in the same place every year?

Downy woodpeckers use their nests for only one breeding season. A couple chooses a new nesting site each year.

Are downy woodpeckers nesting in the backyard?

Downy woodpeckers are sure to nest in backyards that have trees suitable for digging.

Female downy woodpecker outside the nest

Do Downy Woodpeckers Use Nest Boxes?

Downy woodpeckers prefer to dig their own nesting chambers, although they will use artificial nesting boxes of the right size and shape.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife recommends nest boxes that are 14 – 20 inches deep with a 1 1/4 inch entrance diameter. Nest boxes should be installed at least six feet off the ground.

What tree do downy woodpeckers nest in?

Downy woodpeckers nest in many coniferous and deciduous trees. Different trees are favored throughout their wide ranges, even if they are not the most dominant trees in their territory.

Downy woodpeckers nest in the following tree species:

• Oaks
• maple
• Poplar
• pine
• willow
• birch

How tall is a downy woodpecker’s nest?

Most downy woodpeckers dig their nests 15 to 45 feet (5 – 13.5 m) above the ground, although they will also nest as low as 3 feet (1 m). The average height of their nests varies by region.

Downy woodpecker brings back flying insects to feed chicks in nest

Nest Appearance

Downy woodpecker nests are hard to spot because they don’t resemble the typical platform or cup-shaped nests that most songbirds build. Their nests are hidden under the protection of tree trunks or branches. Read on to learn more about their sizes and shapes.

What does a downy woodpecker nest look like?

From the outside, a downy woodpecker’s nest looks like a small circular hole. In fact, the entrance is so small that it is difficult for women to get in and out!

How big is a downy woodpecker’s nest?

The entrance to a downy woodpecker’s nest is about 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 – 3.8 cm) wide. The nest extends down about 6 to 12 inches (15-30 cm) and is about 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter at the base.

Downy woodpecker chick peeking out of nest hole

phenology

Downy woodpecker nesting phenology varies by region and from north to south. Some nesting pairs also take longer or shorter periods of time to complete nest digging and spawning. Read on to learn more about downy woodpecker nesting times.

What time of year do downy woodpeckers nest?

Downy woodpeckers nest from late fall to late summer, with timing varying by latitude. They start earlier in the southern states, where nesting conditions are good by the start of spring.

Nest building begins about two weeks before spawning, and they usually lay their eggs within ten days of finishing nesting.

How Long Do Downy Woodpeckers Nest?

Downy woodpeckers can take about two months to build a nest, from the time the nest is built until the chicks develop their wings. Even so, their work isn’t quite done, as the chicks remain dependent on their parents for another three weeks or so.

Let’s take a closer look at a typical downy woodpecker nesting sequence:

• Den digging: The nest cavity takes one to three weeks to dig
• lay eggs: Downy woodpeckers lay their eggs 1 to 10 days after nesting
• incubation: Eggs hatch after about 12 days
• fledgling: Young birds are ready to leave the nest after 18 to 21 days

What month do downy woodpeckers lay eggs?

Downy woodpeckers lay their eggs in different months depending on the climate of the area in which they live. They spawn in the South as early as April, but conditions in New York may not be right until late June.

Downy woodpecker sticks its head out of its nest

nest

Downy woodpeckers don’t build nests in the typical way birds gather and organize material. They are well equipped to peck out their nests. Read on to learn more about how they create the perfect home for their growing chicks.

How Do Downy Woodpeckers Build Nests?

Downy woodpeckers dig their nests with their short, pointed beaks. Their pecking skills also come in handy when digging roosting holes and finding their favorite food, wood-boring beetle larvae.

What do downy woodpeckers use to build their nests?

Downy woodpeckers dig their nest chambers into the cork of a dead tree or the dead branch of a living tree. They don’t add any external material to the nest, but they use excavated wood chips to line the nest chamber, providing a soft layer of insulation for the eggs, chicks and parent birds.

Do male or female downy woodpeckers build their nests?

Male and female downy woodpeckers work together to dig the nest. Digging such a deep hole is a tough job, even for such a skilled excavator, and two people work in shifts to lighten the load.

Downy woodpeckers dig holes in trees for nesting

soft woodpecker eggs

Few people can say they’ve seen downy woodpecker eggs because they hide well in their nests. Here’s what they look like:

What do downy woodpecker eggs look like?

Downy woodpeckers lay small, shiny white eggs. The average size of each egg is approximately 0.75 x 0.6 inches (19 x 15 mm).

How many eggs do downy woodpeckers lay?

Downy woodpeckers usually lay 4 to 6 eggs, although they can lay 2 to 8 eggs.

Do male downy woodpeckers sit on eggs?

Male downy woodpeckers incubate their eggs every night and part of the day. He develops a large hatching area of ​​bare skin to help transfer his body heat to the developing eggs.

Downy woodpeckers working hard to build nesting holes

fledgling and parental care

Young downy woodpeckers hatch into helpless chicks with closed eyes and no feathers. They weigh less than 2 grams but grow fast and may double their weight on the first day!

Both parents share infant care, although the male does most of the brooding, feeding, and fecal sac removal.

When does the little downy woodpecker leave the nest?

The little downy woodpecker develops rapidly and is ready to fly back to the nest about 18 days after hatching. They are not yet fully independent and will spend a few extra weeks with their parents as they learn to forage and care for themselves.

How many nests do downy woodpeckers have?

Downy woodpeckers produce one litter per year. If the first fails for some reason, they may try a second time.

fledgling woodpecker being fed by its father

common problem

Are downy woodpeckers abandoning their nests?

After the chicks have grown their wings, the downy woodpecker abandons the nest. They will dig a new nest chamber at the beginning of the next breeding season.

Do downy woodpeckers nest on the ground?

Downy woodpeckers don’t nest on the ground, but in some cases, you may find their nests up to three feet high. However, most nests are located in trees above fifteen feet.

Where Do Downy Woodpeckers Nest at Night?

The male velvet woodpecker incubates, broods and roosts with the chicks every night in the nest. He will do this from the day the female lays her eggs until the chicks leave the nest.

How to Attract Nesting Downy Woodpeckers

Downy woodpeckers like to nest in dead tree trunks and branches. If you have the right tree, chances are they will nest in your backyard. Some pairs also use special nest boxes.