Feed suet to attract woodpeckers

Downy woodpeckers are common at feeders in Washtenaw County

Photo by Linda Barker

Although it can be fed year-round, winter is a great time of the year to feed suet to wild birds. The high fat content gives birds the boost in calories they need to survive the short daylight hours and long, cold nights. Suet is wonderful for attracting tree-loving birds like woodpeckers, nuthatches, brown creepers, and chickadees.

Suet is basically beef fat from the kidney area. Other forms of animal fat can be used, but it's been found that birds like the beef variety the most. But, bacon grease will often be readily taken by birds too. Because it's become hard to find kidney suet, many people today buy commercially made suet cakes for convenience. This is usually safer for birds too since the fat in the suet cakes has been rendered. This boils out the impurities and helps the suet to not spoil quickly.

The best way to feed suet is in a hanging basket-type feeder with openings through which the birds can pick out bits of suet. These feeders can be hung from tree branches, or crook poles, or metal arms reaching out from the house or deck. There are some types of suet feeders that have platform extensions below which enable larger woodpeckers like flickers to prop their tails against for leverage.

Woodpeckers prefer suet over seeds. In the Ann Arbor area, Flickers, Downy woodpeckers, Hairy woodpeckers, and Red-bellied woodpeckers are the most common species. In my yard in Lodi Township I have seen all 4 birds at my suet feeder this winter. This is a little unusual as many Flickers actually migrate south. Unfortunately, Red-headed woodpeckers (probably the most striking member of the clan) have become very scarce in the county due to habitat loss.

Other birds which like suet include white and red-breasted nuthatches, Carolina wrens, Brown creepers, and Chickadees. Unfortunately, starlings (a non-native, aggressive bird species) and crows also like it. And sometimes raccoons and squirrels will get into it too. This may necessitate putting the feeder on a pole with a metal baffle on it to keep animals from climbing to it.

I've found that the suet cakes with the bits of peanuts are the most preferred. But, varieties with seeds can also work well. For warm weather use, there are types of suet cakes with 150 degree plus melting points. These usually contain less fat and more grain products, which makes them a bit more crumbly.

Suet works best in wooded or semi-wooded habitats. But, since Ann Arbor is "Tree City", you'll find woodpeckers and nuthatches in most areas in and around the city. So, give it a try this winter!

You can find a variety of good suet products locally at: Wild Birds Unlimited Wild Bird Center Downtown Home & Garden