Woodpeckers are known for their distinctive pecking habits and diverse diet, adapting their foraging to seasonal food availability. Many people observe them at feeders and wonder about their dietary preferences, especially regarding common items like peanuts and their suitability.
Do Woodpeckers Eat Peanuts?
Woodpeckers consume peanuts, which are a popular food source for several species. Common backyard woodpeckers, such as Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied woodpeckers, readily accept them. These birds are often observed at feeders designed for nuts, and peanuts can attract a variety of woodpecker species to backyard feeding stations.
Why Peanuts Attract Woodpeckers
Peanuts attract woodpeckers due to their high nutritional value. Rich in fat and protein, they provide a significant energy boost, particularly beneficial for active birds. This concentrated energy source is especially important during colder months, when birds require additional calories to maintain body heat. Peanuts also offer essential vitamins, minerals, fiber, and oil, supporting overall bird health and feather maintenance. Their caloric content can supplement their natural diet, especially when insects are less abundant.
Safe Ways to Offer Peanuts
Offering peanuts safely involves selecting the correct type and using appropriate feeders. Provide only raw, unsalted peanuts, whether shelled or unshelled. Avoid roasted, salted, seasoned, flavored, or candied peanuts, as these can be unhealthy or dangerous for birds. Peanuts designed for human consumption are not suitable.
Various feeder types can accommodate woodpeckers. Mesh feeders, designed with holes large enough for birds to extract peanuts or break them into smaller pieces, are a good option for shelled peanuts. Suet cages can also be used to hold peanuts, sometimes in combination with suet. For larger woodpeckers, whole peanuts in the shell can be offered in wire wreath feeders or log feeders with drilled holes.
Feeder hygiene is important; regularly clean feeders with hot, soapy water to prevent mold growth, especially in warm weather. Offering small quantities at a time helps ensure freshness and reduces spoilage.
Other Preferred Foods for Woodpeckers
While peanuts are a good addition to a woodpecker’s diet, they naturally consume a wide variety of other foods. Insects, particularly wood-boring grubs, beetles, and ants, constitute a significant portion of their diet. Many woodpecker species are insectivores, adept at extracting prey from trees using their strong bills and long tongues.
Beyond insects, woodpeckers consume suet, a high-energy fat source. They readily eat sunflower seeds, especially hulled varieties that are easier to consume. Natural food sources include acorns, berries, and tree sap, which sapsuckers specialize in. Some species also consume fruits like oranges, grapes, and apples, and occasionally nectar or jelly. This diverse diet ensures woodpeckers receive a broad range of essential nutrients.