The pileated woodpecker is a large, shy woodpecker that does not normally frequent feeders. Although, it usually stays in the woods, we are often treated to the sight of a pair of pileateds that live in the woods behind our house as they come to the edge of the tree line to feed.

Though not traditional feeder birds, this is one feeder they will utilize. My husband made it by making a wire mold to hold four suet cakes which was attached to the tree about 14 – 16 feet in the air. When the suet is finished, my husband uses a long stick to remove the old plastic containers and insert new suet cakes.

When we first put out the woodpecker feeder, we had problem with a raccoon climbing the tree and destroying everything. That is why there is now a band of metal attached to the tree below the feeder. That eliminated the raccoon problem. As you can see from the photo, below the birds lick the suet containers clean.

In addition to the pileated, many other types of woodpeckers visit the feeder along with crows, bluebirds and other suet eaters. If you live in a wooded area where there are pileateds, you may want to try rigging up a pileated feeder and perhaps you will be rewarded with a visit by the special woodpeckers.