Red-headed Woodpeckers (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) occasionally usurp nests of other species. I compared incidence of nest usurpation in logged and non-logged treatments in a burned ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest in 2004 and 2005. I predicted that usurpation would occur more often on logged than non-logged sites because Red-headed Woodpeckers tend to nest in more open habitats. Red-headed Woodpeckers nested more often and usurped a greater proportion of host species in logged (n = 6) than non-logged (n = 3) areas, despite host cavities being more abundant on the non-logged treatment. Usurping Red-headed Woodpecker pairs initiated nesting earlier (x̄ = 12 May ± 2 days) than pairs that excavated cavities (18 May ± 2 days) which implies an existing benefit to offset the cost of interspecific conflict.