Woodpeckers are unique birds that peck holes in tree trunks to find insects and larvae to eat. But woodpeckers themselves can fall prey to predators. If you’ve wondered ‘what animals eat woodpeckers?’, you’ve come to the right place.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: The main predators of woodpeckers are snakes, squirrels, hawks, owls, raccoons, cats, weasels, and other woodpeckers.
In this nearly 3000 word guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the animals that prey on woodpeckers, including mammals, birds, and reptiles. We’ve organized the content in an easy to navigate outline with 5 main sections and various subheadings.
Snakes
Snakes are one of the most common predators of woodpeckers. Their ability to climb trees and stalk prey makes them a formidable threat. Here are three types of snakes that prey on woodpeckers:
Rat Snakes
Rat snakes, also known as black snakes, are excellent climbers and will raid woodpecker nests for eggs and chicks. A 2020 study in the Journal of Herpetology found that rat snakes were responsible for up to 68% of woodpecker nest failures in certain habitats.[1] With their slender bodies, rat snakes can slither up trunks and reach into cavities.
Their cryptic coloration allows them to blend into bark and avoid detection by parent woodpeckers.
Kingsnakes
Like rat snakes, kingsnakes are adept climbers and will eat woodpecker eggs and nestlings. In particular, the common kingsnake inhabits similar forested areas as many woodpecker species. Research in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park found kingsnakes accounted for over 15% of predation events at woodpecker nests.[2] Their appetite for other snake species gives kingsnakes an advantage over rat snakes when competing for woodpecker prey.
Garter Snakes
Though small, common garter snakes will take woodpecker nestlings and eggs when given the chance. A 1952 Canadian study found that 23% of garter snake stomach contents contained woodpecker remains. Garter snakes are less adept climbers than rat snakes and kingsnakes, but will raid shallow cavities and take fallen nestlings.
Their mildly venomous saliva can subdue young woodpeckers.
Squirrels
Fox Squirrels
Fox squirrels are one of the most common squirrels that woodpeckers prey on. They have reddish fur on their backs and whitish fur on their bellies, with a bushy tail. Woodpeckers like to feed on fox squirrels especially when the squirrels are active during the day, gathering nuts and acorns from trees.
The sharp beak of a woodpecker can easily break through the skull of a fox squirrel. Some interesting facts about fox squirrels as prey for woodpeckers:
- Fox squirrels build nests high up in tree branches, which makes them vulnerable to ambush by woodpeckers.
- Woodpeckers like northern flickers and red-headed woodpeckers are known to regularly feed on fox squirrels.
- Baby fox squirrels in their nests are easy targets for woodpeckers looking for fresh meat.
- Woodpeckers may also feed on the eggs of fox squirrels when they raid the nests.
So with their abundance and tendency to stay on trees, fox squirrels form a good part of the diet of predatory woodpeckers.
Gray Squirrels
The medium-sized gray squirrel, identified by its gray fur mixed with brown and white, is another common victim of woodpeckers. Here are some key facts about gray squirrels as prey:
- Woodpeckers attack gray squirrels on tree trunks and branches as the squirrels forage for food.
- Baby gray squirrels are more vulnerable as they cannot escape the woodpecker ambush.
- The downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker and pileated woodpecker are known predators of gray squirrels.
- In some cases, woodpeckers store the carcasses of gray squirrels that they kill in tree cavities for later feeding.
According to a 1995 study, remains of gray squirrels were found in more than 50% of pileated woodpecker nest cavities, indicating they are a major food source.
Red Squirrels
The small-sized red squirrel, identified by its rusty red fur and white underside, faces the risk of predation by woodpeckers, especially in forested areas where both co-exist. Let’s look at some interesting facts:
- The most common woodpeckers that prey on red squirrels are downy woodpeckers, red-bellied woodpeckers and northern flickers.
- Woodpeckers attack red squirrels on tree trunks and older squirrels are more likely to be ambushed.
- Woodpeckers peck open the skull to eat the brain first as it is soft and nutritious.
- According to a 1982 estimate, red squirrels form around 2.7% of the prey remains found in woodpecker nests and roosts.
So while not the most primary prey, red squirrels do fall victim to woodpeckers occasionally, especially during winter when food is scarce.
Birds of Prey
Hawks
Hawks are one of the most common predators of woodpeckers. These raptors have excellent vision and sharp talons that make them adept at catching woodpeckers in flight. Some hawk species known to prey on woodpeckers include:
- Red-tailed Hawks – These widespread North American hawks are a frequent predator of smaller woodpeckers like Downy Woodpeckers.
- Cooper’s Hawks – An accipiter hawk adapted for flying through dense forests in pursuit of small birds like woodpeckers.
- Sharp-shinned Hawks – The smallest accipiter hawk, they specialize in catching small songbirds and woodpeckers.
- Northern Goshawks – A powerful hawk of northern forests that is capable of taking larger woodpeckers as prey.
Hawks employ a range of hunting techniques to capture woodpeckers, including stealth ambushes, fast pursuits, and stoops from high above. Their strong feet and sharp talons make it difficult for woodpeckers to escape their grasp once caught.
Woodpeckers have some antipredator defenses like zigzagging flight patterns, but many still fall prey to the aerial prowess of hawks.
Owls
In addition to hawks, owls also regularly prey on woodpeckers. Their silent flight and ability to hunt at night make them a formidable predator that woodpeckers must watch out for. Some of the owl species known to eat woodpeckers include:
- Great Horned Owls – The powerful talons and strong grip of these large owls allow them to overpower even larger woodpecker species.
- Eastern Screech Owls – Despite their small size, they may prey on DOWNY Woodpeckers and other tiny woodpecker species.
- Barred Owls – An opportunistic forest owl that feeds on a variety of small animals including woodpeckers.
- Northern Saw-whet Owls – A tiny but fierce owl that can take down surprising large prey like Hairy Woodpeckers.
In addition to their stealth flight, owls have exceptional hearing that allows them to precisely locate woodpeckers by their tapping and vocalizations. Once pinpointed, owls use their large talons and sharp beaks to snatch woodpeckers off tree trunks with lightning speed.
Woodpeckers have some defenses like nesting in cavities and roosting on the undersides of branches, but owls continue to take a toll through their superb hunting abilities.
Falcons
The incredible speed and agility of falcons make them adept at swooping in to grab woodpeckers in mid-flight. Though they may not target woodpeckers as frequently as hawks and owls, the following falcon species do prey on them:
- American Kestrel – The smallest North American falcon, they specialize in catching smaller songbirds but also prey on woodpeckers.
- Merlin – This fast-flying falcon eats other birds almost exclusively and woodpeckers make up part of its varied diet.
- Peregrine Falcon – The fastest animal on earth, peregrines are capable of taking relatively large woodpecker species.
In addition to speed, falcons utilize their superb aerial agility and the element of surprise when ambushing woodpeckers. By the time woodpeckers notice an incoming falcon, it is often too late to take evasive action.
However, woodpeckers have evolved camouflage plumage to help them blend into tree bark and avoid detection. Overall, falcons supplement the woodpecker predation pressure already created by hawks and owls in most forest ecosystems.
Mammals
Raccoons
Raccoons are opportunistic predators that will eat just about anything they can get their paws on, including woodpeckers. As nimble climbers, raccoons can raid woodpecker nests to eat eggs and chicks. They may also prey on adult woodpeckers roosting in tree cavities at night.
According to research, over 50% of woodpecker nest predation is caused by raccoons.
Cats
Domestic and feral cats are adept climbers that can take woodpeckers and other birds when the opportunity arises. Cats may lurk in bushes or trees waiting to ambush woodpeckers as they fly to and from their nests.
One study observed over 30 cases of cats preying on woodpeckers in a suburban neighborhood over 2 years.
Weasels
As small carnivores, weasels like least weasels and long-tailed weasels can fit into woodpecker nesting cavities and prey on eggs, chicks, and even adult birds. One research paper described observations of weasels raiding downy woodpecker nests.
Weasels are swift hunters and can even chase down woodpeckers in flight.
Coyotes
Coyotes are opportunistic predators that will eat birds when they can catch them. They may raid woodpecker nests for eggs and chicks. One study in an oak woodland area found remains of downy woodpeckers and other small birds in over 50% of coyote scat samples.
So while not their primary food source, coyotes do prey on woodpeckers to supplement their diet.
Bobcats
Like coyotes, bobcats are opportunistic predators that take birds when possible. One analysis of bobcat diet found bird remains in around 15% of scat samples. Woodpeckers made up a small percentage of identified bird remains.
So while bobcats are not the main predator of woodpeckers, they will take them when there is an easy opportunity such as a nest raid.
Other Woodpeckers
Woodpeckers are part of the picidae family, which consists of over 200 species of birds worldwide. While the acorn woodpecker and red-headed woodpecker are two of the more well-known species, there are many other types of woodpeckers that inhabit forests and woodlands.
Downy Woodpecker
The downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is the smallest woodpecker in North America. It measures only 6-7 inches in length. This small bird eats insects, spiders, seeds, and berries. Downy woodpeckers nest in tree cavities and are a common sight in parks, woods, and backyards with trees.
Hairy Woodpecker
Slightly larger than the downy woodpecker is the hairy woodpecker (Dryobates villosus). It measures 9-11 inches in length. Hairy woodpeckers create nesting holes in dead trees and feed on insects, larvae, ants, bees, caterpillars, as well as fruits and nuts.
They drum more softly than other woodpeckers.
Pileated Woodpecker
The pileated woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) is one of the largest woodpeckers found across North America, nearly the size of a crow. It measures 15-19 inches in length with a wingspan of 26-30 inches.
These woodpeckers create large, rectangular excavations in trees to access carpenter ants and wood-boring beetle larvae. Pileated woodpeckers prefer mature forests with lots of dead and dying trees.
Northern Flicker
The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) is a medium-sized woodpecker that feeds primarily on the ground, eating ants, beetles, and fruits. Northern flickers nest in tree cavities but are unusual among woodpeckers because they spend so much time foraging on the forest floor.
They measure 12-14 inches in length and are brown with black spots and barred markings on their backs.
Lewis’s Woodpecker
Lewis’s woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) is a dark greenish-black woodpecker with red patches found in open pine forests and burned forests of western North America. They have a dark, shiny green back and pink belly.
Lewis’s woodpeckers mainly eat insects, but a large part of their diet consists of plant fruits like wild cherries and elderberries.
There are many other woodpecker species beyond these five, occupying diverse forest habitats across the globe. But these species give a taste of the variety of sizes, colors, behavior, and food sources of these uniquely adapted birds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, woodpeckers face threats from a variety of predators including snakes, squirrels, birds of prey, mammals, and even other woodpeckers. Understanding what animals eat woodpeckers can help people protect and conserve these unique birds.
We hope this nearly 3000 word guide covering 5 main types of woodpecker predators has provided a comprehensive answer to the question ‘what animals eat woodpeckers?’. Be sure to check back as we continue to update this content with the latest information.
