And the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has information about types of woodpecker damage specific to siding, with photos and more information on control measures. The woodpecker page has information about damage prevention and control measures. Hungry woodpeckers will drill horizontal or vertical rows of holes looking for these insects. The damage is usually characterized by large and small holes along the. Resawn Cedar Shakes If the house is made of stained resawn cedar shakes, especially if the stain or paint is an earth tone, it is susceptible to damage, particularly in a woodpecker hot spot. Often the first hole doesn’t work out, and the woodpecker may drill several holes in the building until finding just the right spot to raise young or hunker down during the cold winter months.įoraging holes: Buildings with wooden siding or wooden shakes or shingles often have insects hiding underneath the wood. Woodpecker foraging holes in vertically grooved plywood siding. is woodpeckers trying to enlarge the entrance holes in wooden wren houses. Both birds seem to really love young live oaks, although I have often seen sapsucker damage on older live oaks. Sapsucker and woodpecker damage is usually found on trees that are stressed from some sort of disease or physical wounds. These holes are referred to as sap wells. There the woodpecker hollows out a small space in the insulation to use as the nest or roosting site. The usual complaint is that a woodpecker has started drilling a hole in the. Woodpeckers make larger holes in different spots up and down tree trunks. The woodpecker will drill through the siding, sheathing, and plywood layers until it reaches the insulation. Roosting holes are usually drilled in late summer or fall so that the woodpecker will have a warm place to stay during the winter. If you dont treat these holes, then other birds will piggyback off of the woodpeckers or carpenter bees and start opening the hole bigger and living in your. Nesting holes are usually made in April or May. Roosting or nesting holes: Houses with natural wood or dark stain, particularly those that are near wooded areas, are prone to having woodpeckers drill nesting or roosting holes. The holes are typically small, shallow holes or dents found clustered in wooden siding, usually along the corners of the building, along the fascia or trim boards. This behavior is most common in the early spring but can continue throughout the nesting season (spring and summer). So they hammer on trees, poles, or buildings with their bills, which makes a loud, distinct drumming sound. Types of woodpecker holes:ĭrumming holes: Woodpeckers can’t sing, but they still need to attract a mate and let other woodpeckers know a territory is taken. Solve a Wildlife Problem Get Help » Solve a Wildlife Problem Holes in Wooden Siding or Shingles Small holes in wooden siding or shingles are often caused by woodpeckers. A big, dashing bird with a flaming crest, the largest woodpecker in North America (except the Ivory-bill, which is almost certainly extinct). Contact an IDNR District Wildlife Biologist.Hikers: Be alert for 'aggressive' animals.Rare Visitors to Illinois: Large Carnivores.Repair Damage: What to Know Before Making Repairs.

Woodpecker holes