Best Woodpecker Feeders in 2026 — Suet Feeders & Nest Boxes for Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are among the most dramatic and sought-after garden birds in North America. Their rhythmic drumming, vivid plumage, and acrobatic feeding behaviour make them an instant highlight of any backyard wildlife garden. The key to attracting woodpeckers consistently is understanding what they eat and how they feed — and choosing feeders designed specifically for their needs.
Browse the full Woodpecker Feeders collection at BIRDLOVER.
The 8 Best Woodpecker Feeders in 2026
1. Large Double Hopper Seed and Suet Feeder
The most comprehensive woodpecker feeding station in our collection. Twin suet cages flanking a central seed hopper create a complete feeding destination that serves Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Pileated Woodpeckers simultaneously. The large capacity reduces refilling frequency and the heavy-duty construction handles the demanding feeding style of larger woodpecker species.
From $125 — Shop Now →
2. Going Green Premier Bird Feeder with Suet Cages
A recycled-plastic premier feeder with integrated suet cages — combining environmental credentials with serious woodpecker appeal. The recycled construction means no maintenance painting or treating, and the suet cages are sized for standard suet blocks that are easy to source and replace year-round.
From $94 — Shop Now →
3. Three Woodpecker House
A nest box designed specifically for woodpeckers, with three separate cavities for different woodpecker species. Woodpeckers are cavity nesters that excavate their own holes in natural settings — a purpose-built woodpecker house filled with wood shavings mimics this perfectly and can attract nesting pairs of Downy or Hairy Woodpeckers.
From $70 — Shop Now →
4. Deluxe Cedar Bird Feeder with Suet Cages
A handsome cedar hopper feeder with suet cages mounted on both sides. Cedar construction ensures long outdoor life, and the combination of seed and suet in a single unit means woodpeckers, nuthatches, and seed-eating birds all visit the same station. A reliable, classic design that consistently performs.
From $53 — Shop Now →
5. Downy Woodpecker House
Sized specifically for Downy Woodpeckers — the most common and widespread woodpecker in North America — with the correct 1.25-inch entrance hole and interior cavity depth. Fill with wood shavings, mount on a dead tree or post at 6–20 feet, and Downy Woodpeckers will investigate almost immediately.
From $56 — Shop Now →
6. Going Green Suet Feeder with Tail Prop
The tail prop is the feature that makes this suet feeder specifically appealing to larger woodpeckers. Woodpeckers brace their stiff tail feathers against a surface for support while feeding — the extended wooden panel below the suet cage mimics the natural bark surface they use on trees, making this feeder dramatically more attractive to larger species.
From $24 — Shop Now →
7. Window Suet Feeder
Attach this suet feeder directly to a window with suction cups for close-up woodpecker viewing from indoors. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers regularly overcome their wariness and feed at window feeders, providing the most intimate wildlife viewing experience possible without leaving the house.
From $38 — Shop Now →
8. Songbird Essentials Gord-O Woodpecker Bird House
A gourd-shaped woodpecker nest box that mimics the natural hollow tree cavities woodpeckers prefer in the wild. The natural gourd shape and textured exterior give woodpeckers more to grip as they enter and exit, and the gourd material provides natural insulation for developing chicks.
From $27 — Shop Now →
👉 Browse all Woodpecker Feeders →
Tips for Attracting Woodpeckers to Your Garden
- Offer suet year-round. Suet is the single most effective woodpecker attractant. In summer, choose no-melt suet formulations that hold their shape in heat. In winter, any suet block works. Peanut-flavoured and insect suet are the most universally attractive varieties.
- Leave dead wood in the garden. Dead trees and large dead branches are prime woodpecker habitat — for feeding on insects, drumming to establish territory, and excavating nest cavities. A standing dead tree or large dead branch is more valuable to woodpeckers than any feeder.
- Mount suet feeders on tree trunks. Woodpeckers are naturally more comfortable feeding on vertical surfaces resembling tree bark. Mounting a suet cage directly against a tree trunk or wooden post produces more relaxed, longer woodpecker feeding visits than hanging the feeder in open space.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best food to attract woodpeckers?
Suet is the top choice, attracting all woodpecker species reliably. After suet, peanuts in the shell or peanut pieces in a mesh feeder are highly attractive. Black oil sunflower seeds also draw woodpeckers, particularly Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, to hopper feeders alongside other seed-eating species.
How do I stop other birds from dominating a woodpecker suet feeder?
Use a suet feeder with an extended tail prop panel, which is specifically adapted for woodpeckers but awkward for smaller birds. Caged suet feeders with small openings exclude starlings — the primary suet competitor — while allowing woodpeckers and nuthatches comfortable access. Upside-down suet feeders also deter starlings effectively.
Do woodpeckers use nest boxes?
Yes — Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, and Northern Flicker woodpeckers all use appropriately sized nest boxes, particularly when positioned near existing trees and filled with wood shavings that simulate a freshly excavated cavity. The box must be sized correctly for the target species, with the right entrance hole diameter and interior depth.
Why do woodpeckers drum on houses and metal?
Drumming is a territorial and mate-attraction behaviour, not feeding. Woodpeckers choose surfaces that produce loud, resonant sounds — which unfortunately includes wooden siding, gutters, and metal flashing. Providing a purpose-built resonating drum post away from the house, and keeping suet feeders stocked, can divert drumming activity from the building.
