Downy Woodpeckers are common across North America.If you want to attract them, you should look for wooded areas with lots of trees.Suet and other foods can be provided.They can take shelter against the elements by placing a birdhouse nearby.You want to attract downies to the birdbath.The hairy woodpecker is close to downies, so be careful not to confuse them.
Step 1: You have to be on the right type of land.
Downies love trees.You have to locate yourself in a wooded area of at least two to three acres.The area should have an equal mix of trees.Land that has been cleared for agriculture or logging will not support downy woodpeckers.You won't be able to attract them to these areas.Downies can be found in rural areas if there is enough trees.The trees that are Deciduous are beech, maple, oak, and hickory.
Step 2: Use native plants.
Downies mostly eat bugs.In native plants and trees, these species thrive.You should install native plants and trees if you want to have downies on your property.The botanists at your local arboretum should be able to help you identify the native species in your area.You can check the University of Texas Native Plant Database for help identifying native species in your area.The bugs downy woodpeckers may be present in non-native trees and foliage, but their populations will probably be smaller.
Step 3: Imitate a call from a bird.
Downies call for mates.If you have a recording of a downy woodpecker call, you could play it if you think they are nearby.There are recordings of birds online.You can attract downies by playing these imitation calls on your phone.You can check online for clips of calls.
Step 4: Provide shelter.
Downy woodpeckers prefer to nest in the hollows of trees, so they might be interested in living in a birdhouse.Most home and garden stores sell birdhouses.The base and sides of the birdhouse should be at least 10 feet high.The hole should be in the center of one of the sides around 7'' from the base.Attach the birdhouse to a tree that is between eight and twenty feet off the ground.The birdhouse will be more attractive if it is in the middle of a wooded area.The birdhouse should be filled with four inches of wood.The woodpecker can use them.If you don't want to invest in a birdhouse, you can leave a dead tree in your yard.
Step 5: They should put out their favorites.
Downy Woodpeckers are fond of suing.The local downy woodpeckers will come to you if you put some suet balls or cakes in the backyard.They like fruit, cracked corn, and doughnuts.Before putting doughnuts out, break them up into small pieces.Downies like suet with nuts or peanut butter.At your local home and garden store, you can buy premade cakes or balls.
Step 6: A drumming site can be provided.
In order to attract mates and claim territory, woodpeckers of both sexes will make a rapid tapping against wood with their beaks.If you want to provide an artificial drumming site, you can nail a board to a tree about ten to twenty feet up, then attach another board at the top edge.Since the noise of woodpeckers drumming can be loud, you should locate the site away from your house.The drumming site may be more attractive to the woodpeckers if the second board is covered with sheet metal.woodpeckers have a unique behavior called drumming.
Step 7: There is a birdbath.
Downies are used at birdbaths from time to time.They could drink from the birdbath.Downies are more likely to visit a birdbath during the winter.Downies drink from puddles, ponds, or places where water collects on tree limbs instead of from birdbaths.
Step 8: The size and shape are important.
Downies are 7 inches long.They are both black and white.The black bill of the downy woodpecker is straighter and narrower than that of other birds, which allows it to chisel hard wood.There is a red cap on the head of a male.As they age, it appears on the forehead and moves to the back of the head.There is a tuft of white fur between the eyes.
Step 9: The right colors should be looked for.
Downies have wings that are black and white.A white stripe runs down the center of the back, and their chests are either white or grayish.Their eyes are contained within a large black patch of fine feathers.
Step 10: Don't confuse downies with other birds.
The hairy woodpecker is a close relative of the downies.There are several differences between the two species, one of which is the fact that hairy woodpeckers are nine inches long from head to tail.Downy woodpeckers have black spots on their outer tail feathers, which are white.The hairy woodpeckers have a black mark on their shoulders.This mark is less prominent in downies.