Despite its beauty, this female Downy Woodpecker is a less than welcome guest in our yard. She and her friends are responsible for several holes in the soffits and siding of our home. Woodpeckers aren’t interested in the wood but rather the insects that dwell within. Hopefully, we will not have the same trouble with the new home we are building. Properly installed siding will shed water and allow for proper ventilation and drying from the back surface. When dry, woods like cedar are naturally resistant to insects.