Why do woodpeckers peck on houses?

Woodpeckers are beautiful birds that like to peck their nests directly into the log of trees. There are many different types of woodpeckers, and many people who live near forests or heavily wooded areas, often complain about these intelligent little birds pecking on their houses.

This is a more common occurrence than people think, and because most houses are made out of wood, woodpeckers can be a real nuisance, causing thousands of dollars of damage to roofs, walls and attics. There are four main reasons that woodpeckers peck on houses.

Woodpeckers gain their name because most of their mating, hunting and survival behavior is marked by their admirable capacity to peck through almost anything – trees mainly – with their amazingly strong beaks.

When mating season begins, a woodpecker may begin to drum loudly on a house if they find that it makes a loud, echoing noise that will attract an appropriate mate. The louder the drumming, the more dominant the male may seem, and by marking his territory as loudly as possible, he may be able to get the best female.

A woodpecker may also be pecking on a house because it’s trying to hollow out a space for a nest. If it finds a nice, dry and cozy place under the eaves it may decide to peck out a nest, before lining it with feathers, dry leaves and twigs, ready for laying eggs.

If your house is lined with wood, a woodpecker may very well be interested in some small insects living in or around the wood. Termites, bees, bagworms and the larvae of all of these are particular favorites of these smart little birds, and their long beaks allow them to peck quickly and reach into small spaces to eat their delicious morsels.

If you find small, acorn sized holes on the sides of your home, it may be that a woodpecker is pecking small storage spaces for its food. They like to make safe places to store acorns and nuts, and have dozens of these in the trees and houses that are within their territory.

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