Woodpeckers are generally solitary birds. They peck around the woods in search of food or nests. Usually, they are peace lovers unless someone occupies their territory.
When having a nap, disturbing pecks can get you on your nerves. So, why is a woodpecker pecking on my house? What inspires them to peck on your house despite the anti-social behavior?
We will find out today. Don’t worry! They are not here to invade your house or steal your food. They just want to make some bread for themselves. Let’s get into the details.
You Should Know,
- There are around 240 distinct woodpecker species as recognized by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC).
- The Pileated Woodpeckers are notably more anti-social than other species. They rarely interact with other birds, even of the same species.
- Sometimes, they do engage in violent confrontations with other birds who risk their territory and living habitats.
- They generally feed on insects such as beetles, ants, and caterpillars. The birds use their sharp bills to draw out the insects from tree bark. (That’s why the pecking!)
- Woodpeckers also love tree sap, nectar, and fruits too! They adopt a versatile diet and prepare for any situation since not all species are migratory.
- They also store food in the bark crevices or tree holes, by pecking. They wedge insects into the holes they make and store them for late consumption.
- Woodpeckers tongues are unique and extensible. The deep long tongues have bones on them and help them extract the insects. It may look creepier at first sight.
Now, you know how woodpeckers behave under different circumstances and also about their behavior. It’s time to get a straightforward answer.
Why Is A Woodpecker Pecking On My House?
Different reasons can follow when a woodpecker exclusively selects your house to peck. Read the next part, and figure out which one attracts the birds to your house.
You will also know when to call for experts’ help and when not to. Let’s begin.
4 Reasons Why Is A Woodpecker Pecking On My House:
It’s very unlikely of the woodpeckers to peck your house. Even if they do, priority places would be the sidings, doors, and window shields (wood-made). The reasons are as follows,
1) You Have Food
We are not talking about leftover burgers or sandwiches. If different parts of your home are made of wood, insects would likely gather around. They would take shelter in the siding, window shields, eaves, or even inside the wooden doors.
It’s already a welcome sign for the woodpeckers with the insects around. In the United States, the primary reason for woodpeckers to peck your house is because they are simply looking for food.
Now, it’s alright to think, how would a woodpecker know insects are hiding inside my wooden siding? It’s the same way they do with trees.
Remember that, woodpeckers are mainly insectivores. They have remarkably sensitive ears and they can hear the bugs crawling inside the tree bark when in the area.
Even if they don’t hear them, they can sense the vibration at which the bugs are moving beneath the surface. The same rule applies to your house also.
You may not know where and how the bugs got in. But the woodpeckers can surely sense it out. And if it’s wood-boring beetles or ants, make room for the witty birds at your home.
2) They Live Nearby
Woodpeckers are simply territorial birds. In fact, not all the species of woodpeckers migrate during the cold. Most of them stay in the same region, near their home range all around the year.
Not to mention, the little birds can also become extremely aggressive when other birds or even other woodpeckers try and inherit their territory.
So, when a woodpecker is pecking at your home, perhaps it’s the noise they want to deliver to the intruders because it sounds louder than done in the woods.
It’s a clear message that “that’s my territory and you should stay out of it.” It’s obviously as hell disturbing for us but for them, it’s an essential survival hack to avoid territory invaders.
3) They Are in Love
It’s around April and May when the Downy Woodpeckers can’t help themselves and will continuously keep drumming on woods, trees, posts, and anything they find.
This is their breeding season and they would do anything to let potential partners know that, they are available. It also defines their fitness and strength with the possibility of giving birth to perfectly healthy offspring.
Is it the month of April or May? Get confirmed that, this is the birds are pecking at your home as a part of their courtship and won’t stop until they find one. Are you going to drive them away or let them find one another?
4) Send Message!
It’s not always the woodpeckers would drum in search of food, partner or to protect the territory. Sometimes, they can also peck in order to send a message to a fellow woodpecker nearby.
While most woodpeckers naturally choose the trees to peck and communicate, some woodpeckers can also take it to another level. For example, the Northern Flickers intentionally pecks on houses, especially the wooden ones.
The little birds can overpower your intelligence and occupy your home! Here are four of the most common reasons why is a woodpecker pecking on my house.
Now, that you know. It’s time to decide what would you do. Would you let them be or take the initiative to drive them away? Our article will help you get rid of them with no scope of coming back.
Here are Some Preventive Measures Exclusively For Your Home,
- Windchimes are great for scaring away the woodpeckers. You can also buy windsocks or pinwheels. Additionally, decoy predator birds such as a fake owl can be perfect to scare the birds off.
- You can use shiny reflective mirrors on your windows or doors. If mirrors don’t feel safe, reflective Mylar balloons can also do the trick.
- Plug the holes when the bird is away, it will discourage them only to find out every day that, the holes previously made have been filled up!
- Similar to Owls, you can also use fake hawks, and eagles to drive the birds away. Make sure the fake ones make sound and are associated with at least some movement. It’s easier to scare them away.
You will find professional tips here. Here are a few budget-friendly tips to get started and drive away the woodpeckers who are less likely to return once you scare them off.
Lastly!
The drums may be a pain to our ears. But remember the birds are a clear helper of the bird community. They control the insect population and help other birds by letting other birds use the holes they create to stay and the list goes on.
You can either welcome them or drive them away. However, do it gently to make sure, the birds are unharmed and find a safe habitat somewhere else to stay.
Share our article with others who are dealing with the same issue with woodpeckers. It will also help us grow too. Stay with us as we will come back soon with another article on our avian friends too.