TL;DR
Yes, Downy Woodpeckers will readily use nest boxes, provided the boxes meet their specific needs. Downy Woodpeckers prefer nest boxes with a 1-1.5 inch entrance hole and minimal perching space on top. They also like boxes placed 5-15 feet high on trees in open woodlands or forest edges. With proper box placement and design, Downy Woodpeckers can be attracted to nest in yards and gardens.
What Kind of Nest Cavity do Downy Woodpeckers Prefer?
Downy Woodpeckers nest in cavity holes they excavate in dead trees. They prefer cavities with the following features:
- Entrance hole diameter: 1 – 1.5 inches
- Cavity depth: 5 – 10 inches
- Internal diameter: 3 – 4 inches
- Height above ground: 5 – 15 feet
The small entrance hole helps prevent larger predators like raccoons from entering the nest. The short cavity depth and wide internal diameter give the adult woodpeckers room to maneuver and feed their young.
Will Downy Woodpeckers Use Nest Boxes?
Yes, Downy Woodpeckers will readily accept nest boxes, provided the boxes mimic their natural nesting cavity requirements.
Studies have shown Downy Woodpeckers will use nest boxes with the following features:
- Entrance hole diameter: 1 – 1.5 inches
- Internal floor dimensions: 4 x 4 inches minimum
- Depth: 8 – 12 inches
- No perch or very small perching area on roof
- Rough, unpainted interior wood
- Placement 5 – 15 feet high on tree trunks
Boxes with larger entrance holes or perching areas tend to attract non-target species like European Starlings. Boxes placed higher than 15 feet see little use.
What Habitat do Downy Woodpeckers Favor?
Downy Woodpeckers thrive in open woodlands, particularly around forest edges adjoining fields, meadows or suburban yards. Good habitat features include:
- Mature open forests with oaks, hickories, aspens, cottonwoods
- Forest clearings and edges
- Woodlots with dead standing trees (snags)
- Old orchards
- Suburban yards with trees
- Riparian areas along streams
This semi-open habitat provides both sufficient food (like insects and spiders) and enough dead trees or branches for nesting.
How to Attract Downy Woodpeckers to Nest Boxes
Follow these tips to entice Downy Woodpeckers to use your nest boxes:
- Choose a nest box designed specifically for Downy Woodpeckers, or build your own to the proper specifications.
- Place boxes in suitable Downy Woodpecker habitat like open woods, forest edges, or yards with large trees.
- Mount boxes on tree trunks 5-15 feet above ground.
- Face the entrance hole south or east.
- Install boxes in late winter before breeding season.
- Leave boxes up year-round – Downys may roost in them in winter.
- Clean out old nesting material after chicks fledge.
- Consider placing nesting material (wood shavings) inside the box.
- Avoid insect pesticides which reduce food supplies.
Nest Box Design Specifications for Downy Woodpeckers
Here are the optimal nest box dimensions for Downy Woodpeckers:
Exterior Box Dimensions:
- Height: 8-12 inches
- Width: 4-6 inches (wide enough for entrance hole and ventilation)
- Depth: 4-6 inches
- Hanging wire: 10-20 inches
Entrance Hole:
- Diameter: 1 – 1.5 inches
- Shape: Circular
- Height above floor: 6-8 inches
- Orientation: South or east direction
Interior Box Dimensions:
- Floor: 4 x 4 inches minimum
- Depth: 8-12 inches
- Bottom: No perch, ground is floor of cavity
- Walls: Unpainted rough wood
Roof:
- Overhang entrance hole slightly
- Minimal or no perching area
Construction Materials:
- Exterior: Wood (cedar, pine, birch)
- Avoid treated lumber
- No paint or stain
Ventilation and Drainage:
- Ventilation slots near top of front panel
- Drainage holes near floor of front panel
Typical Downy Woodpecker Nest Box Timeline
Here is what you can expect if Downy Woodpeckers use your nest box:
- Late winter: Hanging empty nest boxes in late winter will allow Downy Woodpeckers to find them and claim as territories.
- March – May: Males will begin drumming on box to attract female. Once paired, the male excavates the nest cavity in the box. Nest height ranges 6 to 18 feet.
- Late April – early May: The female lays a clutch of 3-8 white eggs and incubates them for 12 days.
- May – July: Eggs hatch and parents feed nestlings for 18-21 days til fledging.
- Late May – August: Fledglings leave nest but may return to roost in box for 2-3 weeks.
- June – July: Parents may raise a second brood using same nest box.
- Late summer: Clean out old nesting material after chicks fledge.
- Fall – winter: Leave nest boxes up for winter roosting sites.
Downy vs Hairy Woodpecker Nest Boxes
The nesting habits of Downy and Hairy woodpeckers are very similar. But Hairy Woodpeckers are larger and require a bigger entrance hole.
Use these guidelines for distinguishing nest boxes for Downys and Hairys:
Feature | Downy Woodpecker Box | Hairy Woodpecker Box |
---|---|---|
Entrance hole diameter | 1 – 1.5 inches | 1.5 – 2 inches |
Inside floor dimensions | 4 x 4 inches | 5 x 5 inches |
Height above ground | 5 – 15 feet | 10 – 20 feet |
Ideal Nesting Density for Downy Woodpeckers
Downy Woodpeckers are somewhat territorial and require spacing between nest sites. Guidelines include:
- Space boxes 100 yards apart minimum.
- Group 2-4 boxes within an acre of suitable habitat.
- Downys may occupy alternating boxes in consecutive years.
Placing boxes too close together reduces occupancy. But providing a surplus of properly spaced boxes allows the woodpeckers to select their preferred nesting site.
Common Problems for Downy Woodpeckers Using Nest Boxes
Here are some potential issues to watch for with Downy Woodpecker nest boxes:
Non-Native Competitors
- European Starlings may harass or exclude Downy Woodpeckers from larger boxes. Use small 1-1.5 inch entrance holes to prevent access.
- House Sparrows may seize boxes placed close to buildings. Locate boxes well away from houses and barns.
Native Competitors
- Flying squirrels may take over Downy nest boxes, especially in winter. Clean boxes after each nesting season to prevent them from becoming established.
- Red-breasted and White-breasted Nuthatches may compete for smaller boxes intended for Downy Woodpeckers. Ensure boxes meet Downy requirements.
Predators
- Raccoons can reach into boxes and prey on eggs, young and even adults. Small 1-1.5 inch entrance holes help exclude them.
- Snakes may eat eggs and nestlings. Keep vegetation cleared around boxes to reduce places for snakes to hide.
- Hawks and owls prey on adult woodpeckers. Locate boxes lower on tree trunks to provide cover.
Weather and Decay
- Leaks can wet contents of box, chilling eggs and young. Ensure box allows drainage.
- Overheating is uncommon for Downy boxes, being higher on shaded tree trunks.
- Use durable untreated wood and check boxes yearly for damage, replacing as needed.
How to Monitor Downy Woodpecker Nest Box Success
Here are some tips for monitoring nest box occupancy and breeding success:
- March – May: Watch for males drumming on boxes to attract mates.
- April – May: Observe activity at box entrance holes to confirm nesting. Avoid disturbing boxes once eggs are laid.
- May – July: Monitor boxes for signs of hatched eggs like discarded shells. Listen for begging calls of nestlings.
- June – August: Watch fledglings return to box openings when parents deliver food.
- Collect data on dates of occupancy, number of eggs and young produced, and number fledged.
- Do not open boxes once nesting is underway, to avoid abandonment.
Detailed records over successive seasons will reveal trends in nest box use and productivity. Share data with citizen science databases.
How to Attract Downy Woodpeckers to Your Yard
Follow these tips to entice Downy Woodpeckers to visit and potentially nest in your yard:
- Plant native trees like oak, hickory, birch, maple and elm which attract insect prey.
- Retain dead standing trees (snags) and dead branches for foraging sites.
- Select a nest box designed just for Downy Woodpeckers.
- Place nest boxes on trunks of large trees 5-15 feet up.
- Include suet feeders stocked with nut/fruit suet cakes.
- Provide black oil sunflower seeds in feeders with small perches.
- Set up birdbaths for drinking and bathing.
- Avoid pesticides that reduce insect numbers needed for feeding nestlings.
- Include berry plants like dogwoods, viburnum and sumac to help attract Downy Woodpeckers.
With proper habitat and nest box placement, you can successfully entice Downy Woodpeckers to live and breed in your backyard.
Fun Facts About Downy Woodpeckers
Here are some fascinating facts about these common backyard woodpeckers:
- They are the smallest woodpeckers in North America at 5-7 inches long.
- They get their name from the soft white downy feathers covering their back.
- Males have a small red spot on the back of their heads.
- They drum at speeds up to 15 times per second!
- Their tongue wraps around the base of their skull.
- They breed across almost all of North America.
- Downys may roost inside nest boxes in winter months.
- They occasionally hide food like acorns or suet in bark crevices for later retrieval.
- Oldest known Downy Woodpecker was over 11 years old.
- They may raise 2 broods per year using the same nest cavity.
Though small, Downy Woodpeckers are mighty excavators able to chisel nest holes in sound dead wood. Getting to observe and support these charismatic birds via nest boxes is a rewarding experience for many people.
Conclusion
Downy Woodpeckers readily accept properly constructed and placed nest boxes that mimic their natural cavity requirements. Boxes with entrance holes of 1-1.5 inches, minimal perching space, smooth interiors, and placed 5-15 feet high on tree trunks will attract these woodpeckers. Siting nest boxes in open woodland habitat near forests, fields or suburban yards provides Downys with adequate food resources and protection. Homeowners can enjoy observing the nesting behaviors and chick rearing of Downy Woodpeckers by installing suitable nest boxes in yards and gardens. Citizen scientists can contribute data on Downy Woodpecker nest box occupancy to better understand population trends. By supporting the unique nesting needs of Downy Woodpeckers with specialized boxes, we can aid the success of these diminutive backyard woodpeckers.