The northern flicker (Colaptes auratus), responsible for the most woodpecker damage to Colorado homes, is identified in flight by a yellow or salmon tint under the wings and tail feathers. Flickers have black spots on a tannish-white breast and belly. Males have a black or red mustache extending from the gape of the beak to below the eyes. The red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus), red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), Williamson’s sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus), hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus), and downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens), also occasionally cause problems in Colorado.

There are three reasons that woodpeckers peck at homes:

1. The most common cause for woodpecker damage on buildings is a phenomenon called drumming. Drumming is a territorial act, warning other woodpeckers that this is his territory and to attract mates. Drumming is most common in the spring during early morning and late afternoon and usually ends by July1. But may start up again in the fall.
2. The second cause for woodpecker damage is the creation of a new den. All North American woodpeckers are primarily cavity nesters that excavate their own cavities. They need dead or dying trees, (also known as snags), to excavate their nesting cavities. With the growth of cities, the availability of snags has decreased significantly and challenges the woodpeckers to find suitable alternatives - - your home.
3. The third, and least common reason, for woodpeckers to damage your home is the search for insects. Because insects seldom infest well-seasoned wood in Colorado, woodpeckers hammer holes to obtain insects primarily during the first two years after house construction. Woodpeckers frequently damage cedar, rough pine, redwood siding, and some synthetic stucco exterior finishing. Plywood and Masonite are less frequently damaged.

Woodpeckers are classified as migratory nongame birds and are protected by the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. A federal permit is required before any lethal control methods are employed. Penalties and fines are assessed to violators. Before you can get a permit you must show that you have tried several non-lethal control methods and they did not work. Below are several non-lethal control methods that have had varying degrees of success.

• Visual Repellents

1. 7 ½ inch diameter shaving or cosmetic mirrors that enlarge the image placed on the side of the house where damage occurs. Attach one or two mirrors flat to the wood with the enlarging lens outward to frighten woodpeckers.
2. Hawk silhouette mobiles. These should have a wing span of about 22 inches and a length of 11 inches, and can be constructed from cardboard, ½ inch styrofoam, or ¼ inch plywood. Paint the mobile black or another dark color and hang it from the eave near the damaged area with heavy weight fishline.
3. Black plastic strips (cut from 4 or 6 mil plastic) 1 to 1 ½ inches wide and 2 to 3 feet long, Mylar strips, pinwheels with reflective vanes, or aluminum pie tins, may be attach near the damaged area in a way that they will blow in the wind freely. Attach two pie tins to a length of string so they can blow freely. Hang several strips, pinwheels, or pie tins along the side of the building where the damage occurs and not more than a foot apart.

    

4. Scary eye balloons. These can be purchased from bird control companies. When blown up the balloon looks like a huge owl without a body. The balloon should hang above the area where there is damage and left in place for at least three weeks after the damage has ended. Make sure the balloon can move in the wind as this movement adds to the effect.

1. Some woodpeckers are frightened away with persistent loud noises such as banging pots and pans together, firing toy cap guns, or yelling.
2. Filling the hollow space behind the wood with expanding foam insulation, which deadens the sound-producing void, discourages some woodpeckers.

• Other Methods

1. Spray the birds gently with water from a garden hose when they start to drill or drum.
2. Sticky bird repellents, such as Tanglefoot or Roost-No-More, applied to siding and other areas may discourage woodpeckers because they create a tacky footing. Some sticky bird repellents may stain the wood in hot weather, so test it on a small out-of-sight area before applying extensively. Because these repellents are sticky other things may stick to them and become unsightly, such as bugs, leaves, and dirt.
3. Attaching bird netting or hardware cloth to the eaves. Angle it back to the siding below the damaged area and fastening it securely. Another method is to attach the netting under the eave and stretch it tightly down the side of the house, keeping it at least 3 inches from the siding and securely attach it close to the ground. You may need to use spacers to keep the netting away from the siding. You do not want the woodpeckers to land on the netting and be able to reach the siding to hammer.
4. Nesting boxes can be placed in the area of the damage, if the woodpecker is hammering to make a nest. Nesting woodpeckers will defend their territories and keep other woodpeckers away. Construct a box from wood with the inside dimensions about 6 x 6 inches and the total height 22 to 26 inches long. Attach a front-sloping hinged roof to shed rain and provide easy access. Drill a 2 ½ inch diameter entrance hole 16 to 20 inches from the bottom. Fill the box with sawdust to encourage the bird to excavate it to the desired level. Supposedly, by removing the sawdust, the bird is fooled into thinking it is constructing its own nest. Some nutmeat can be added just inside the entrance hole to entice the woodpecker. Hang the finished nesting box in the area of the damage at a height of 6 to 20 feet above the ground and cover all holes drilled by woodpeckers.

Try several of these methods, start them as soon as you see the woodpeckers hammering on your house or notice their damage. You may try several different methods at the same time. When several nonlethal control methods fail to deter nuisance woodpecker, lethal control may be required as a last resort. Now you will need a depredation permit from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Migratory Bird Permit Office. To request an application for a depredation permit you can call 303-236-8171 or download the application from their web site at www.fws.gov. Chose the "permits" section, select "migratory bird permits" and then under "Permit Application Forms" under Non-Eagle chose "depredation" permit application form. This form must then be submitted in writing along with the application fee and Form 37.

Form 37 can be acquired by calling the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Wildlife Services at 303-969-5775. You will need to explain the problem over the phone and they will then issue you a Form 37, which details the problem and includes their recommendation to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

Pest control companies or animal relocaters may be helpful in catching and destroying the woodpecker if you do not want to do it yourself and they may take care of getting the permits need. Look under Pest Control in the yellow pages.