Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Not a Warner Brothers cartoon character, but an actual bird. The closely related Red-naped Sapsucker is very similar, but ranges are distinctly different. As the name implies, Sapsuckers drill a series of wells in trees and drink the sap that oozes forth. They are often quite important ecologically for a given habitat, as several other animal species use sapsucker wells for feeding. Male Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are quite territorial, and can often be heard banging out their territorial drumming. They've come to learn that metal signs and other metal objects can amplify the drumming sound, and thus individual birds may return to a given sign time and time again in order to reinforce their control over a territory. The photo to the right shows a male at a nest hole. Females are similar in plumage but lack the red on the throat.

Habitat

Can be found in nearly any kind of forest during migration. Generally in deciduous to mixed forest in the summer.

Diet

Other than sap, eats insects attracted by their sap wells. Also eats fruits and berries.

Behavior

While much of the diet may be tree sap, they also often glean insects from branches as do other woodpeckers. They also may catch insects in mid-air.

Nesting

Late May through July in South Dakota. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are cavity nesters, building their nests in trees that often have a fungal infection that makes the heartwood easier to excavate. The male constructs the nest, building a cavity with a small entrance hole but an inside cavity that may reach 10-12 inches in depth. No lining is placed in the nest outside of wood chips from the excavation itself. The female lays 4 to 7 eggs, with both parents helping to incubate them. The young hatch after about 13 days, and don't fledge from the nest until about 3 to 4 weeks from hatching.

Song

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have a variety of calls. The most common is a mewing type of call that descends in pitch.

Migration

While most woodpeckers in the United States are not know for long migration, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is strongly migratory, wintering in the southeastern U.S. down through Central America, and summering in the northern U.S. and Canada.

Interactive eBird map

Click here to access an interactive eBird map of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker sightings

Similar Species

Range separates Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers from most similar species, but there may be confusion in some select locations with the following species:

Red-naped Sapsucker - The equivalent species of the western part of North America, Red-naped Sapsuckers are very similar in appearance to Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. However, Red-naped Sapsuckers have a red spot on the back of the neck (nape) that is lacking on Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. In terms of range, there's very little overlap, but the two species could potentially both be found in far western South Dakota.
Williamson's Sapsucker - There's normally rarely any overlap in range among the two species, but Williamson's Sapsuckers could be confused with a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (may sometimes occur in the western US with wayward migrant Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers). Williamson's Sapsuckers have a solid black back compared to the white and black barred back of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Williamson's Sapsuckers also lack the red forehead stripe of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and have a smaller red throat patch.
Downy Woodpecker - Of the species on this list, Downy Woodpeckers are the most likely to be found in the same locations as Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Downy Woodpeckers have a smaller bill, a a clean white patch on the back (compared to black and white barring on the back of a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker). Downy Woodpeckers also lack the white wing patch, red forehead stripe, and red throat found on Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers.


Red-naped Sapsucker	Red-naped Sapsucker	Williamson's Sapsucker	Downy Woodpecker

Feeders

Will occasionally attend feeders for fruit. They also will sometimes come to hummingbird feeders for nectar, and occasionally feed on suet.

Conservation Status

Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have become much less common in parts of their range, primarily due to the loss of suitable nesting habitat. However, populations are generally stable, they are common in many parts of their range, and they are found over a broad geographic area. The IUCN considers the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker to be a species of "Least Concern".

Photo Information

May 21st, 2010 - Near Brandon, South Dakota -- Terry L. Sohl

Audio File Credits

¹Sue Riffe. Recorded on Big Creek Road, Michigan on May 11th, 2018. Original recording and information from xeno-canto.
²Scott Gravette. Recorded in Carter County, Tennessee on June 13th, 2018. Original recording and information from xeno-canto.
³Andrew Spencer. Recorded in Hampshire County, Massachusetts on April 18th, 2010. Original recording and information from xeno-canto.