eartheasy Downy Woodpecker House

The entrance hole is precisely sized to allow Downy Woodpeckers to enter while preventing larger birds, such as Starlings or Flickers, from taking over the nest. This size restriction is a critical safety feature that protects the smaller woodpeckers and their brood from competition and predators.

For the best results, mount the house on a post or tree trunk in a relatively quiet area of your yard, ideally 6 to 15 feet above the ground. Facing the entrance toward an open area, away from prevailing winds, will help keep the interior comfortable for the nesting birds.

No, you should leave the house empty. Downy Woodpeckers prefer to excavate their own wood chips or use natural debris to create a nest inside the cavity, so adding store-bought nesting material can actually discourage them from using the house.

The house should be cleaned once a year, ideally in late fall or early winter after the birds have finished nesting. Simply open the unit, remove any old nesting material, and scrub the interior with a mild solution of one part bleach to nine parts water, ensuring you rinse it thoroughly and let it dry completely before re-closing it.

While it is specifically designed for Downy Woodpeckers, other small cavity-nesting birds like Nuthatches or Chickadees may occasionally show interest. However, the specific dimensions are optimized for the Downy Woodpecker's nesting habits.