Tail-prop suet feeder
WoodLink WBU Cedar Wood Tail Prop Suet Feeder
A cedar holder with a long tail prop; the mesh grid lifts out.
Woodpecker feeders
Woodpeckers come for suet and peanuts: a suet cage with a tail prop, such as the WoodLink 26875, lets them brace as they do on a trunk; downy and red-bellied woodpeckers also take sunflower from hoppers.
Suet with squirrels around
Brome Squirrel Buster Suet
Two cakes behind a closing shroud; a crumb port catches pieces.
Peanuts and suet bits
Droll Yankees Seed Saver Platform Bird Feeder X-1
A covered tray for peanuts, suet nuggets or mealworms.
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One more feeder
WoodLink · Seed feeder
Absolute II
- Holds 8 qt
- Squirrel-resistant
- Comes apart to clean
Holds 8 quarts, closes under squirrels, and comes with its own pole.
Keep in mind: Use the included mounting system as sold; pole dimensions and the complete station load limit are not published for a custom setup.
What woodpeckers eat at feeders
Downy and red-bellied woodpeckers, the two most common at US feeders, take suet, peanuts and peanut hearts, sunflower and safflower. Red-bellied woodpeckers also eat fruit and will sip sugar water.
Why a tail prop helps
Woodpeckers lean back on their stiff tail feathers when they cling to a trunk. A suet feeder with a long board below the cage gives them the same brace, so larger woodpeckers stay longer. A cage that feeds from underneath suits woodpeckers and nuthatches better than starlings.
Where to hang it
Hang suet near a tree trunk or on a pole close to trees, where woodpeckers already move. Keep it in shade in warm weather, and switch to no-melt cakes or stop suet when summer heat softens it.
References
| Source | Updated |
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| Common Feeder Birds ↗ | |
| Feeder Types ↗ |