Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
Visual Identification
Appearance
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a small woodpecker with striking black and white plumage. Its back features a bold white stripe, while the underparts display a pale yellow wash. The head is marked with bold white and black stripes.
Males have a bright red crown and throat, while females have a red crown and brown throat. Juveniles resemble females but have overall browner plumage. Winter adults may show duller colors.
Size
Length
19cm to 22cm
Wingspan
34cm to 40cm
Weight
40g to 55g
Colours
Males and females have similar plumage
Primary Colour
Black White Red
Secondary Colour
Yellow
Beak Colour
Grey
Leg Colour
Grey
Habitat and Distribution
Habitats
Woodland
Garden
Wetland
Coastal
Urban
Farmland
Grassland
Desert
Tundra
Rainforest
Mountain
Savanna
Distribution
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers inhabit deciduous and mixed forests across North America. Their breeding range extends from Alaska through Canada to the northeastern United States and the Appalachian Mountains.
During winter, they migrate to the southeastern United States, Mexico, and parts of the Caribbean. In the United States, they are common in eastern forests during spring and fall migrations.
Elevation Range
Sea level to 3,500 meters
Climate zones
Temperate, Boreal
Distribution Map
This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.
A few things to keep in mind:
- Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
- Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
- This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations
We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:
- More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
- How birds move around during different seasons
Distribution by Region
Behaviour and Ecology
Bird Attributes
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Share your thoughtsBird Attributes Explained
Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.
Attribute Categories:
- Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
- Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
- Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
- Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
- Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
Understanding the Ratings:
- 0-20: Very Low
- 21-40: Low
- 41-60: Average
- 61-80: High
- 81-100: Very High
Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.
Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.
Agility
Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker demonstrates high agility, as evidenced by its ability to navigate through forests, cling to tree trunks, and perform precise drilling movements. Its woodpecker adaptations allow for nimble manoeuvring amongst branches and swift flight patterns.
Strength
Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
While not exceptionally strong compared to larger birds, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker possesses sufficient strength to excavate nest cavities in live trees and drill sap wells. Its strength is specialised for these tasks rather than for overall brawn.
Adaptability
Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
This species shows good adaptability, inhabiting various forest types from sea level to 3,500 metres elevation. Its ability to create and maintain sap wells, as well as its diverse diet of sap, insects, and fruits, demonstrates flexibility in feeding strategies.
Aggressiveness
Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers display moderate aggressiveness. They defend their territories and sap wells but are not known for exceptional aggression towards other species or humans. Their 'mewing' calls and drumming displays are more for communication than intimidation.
Endurance
Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.
As a migratory species capable of travelling from Canada to the Caribbean, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker exhibits good endurance. Its ability to maintain sap wells and forage extensively, coupled with its migratory nature, suggests above-average stamina for a bird of its size.
Diet
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers primarily feed on tree sap, which they access by drilling holes in the bark and then waiting for them to well up with the sugary fluid. The main trees are maples, aspens, and birches.
They also consume insects, especially those attracted to their sap wells. Fruits and berries supplement their diet, particularly during winter and migration periods.
Behaviour
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are known for their unique feeding behavior of drilling neat rows of holes in tree bark to access sap. They often return to these 'sap wells' regularly.
During courtship, males perform noisy drumming displays on resonant branches or metal objects to attract mates.
Vocalisation
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker's most distinctive call is a nasal, cat-like 'mew' or 'meow.' During the breeding season, they produce a series of squealing notes that descend in pitch.
Their drumming is slower and more irregular than other woodpeckers, often described as a 'Morse code' pattern.
Nesting & Breeding
Breeding season for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers typically begins in late spring. Males attract females with drumming displays and vocalizations. Pairs often return to the same nesting area year after year.
These woodpeckers excavate new nest cavities each year, usually in live trees with fungal heart rot. The female lays 4-7 white eggs in the unlined cavity. Both parents share incubation duties.
Incubation lasts about 12-13 days, and nestlings fledge after 25-29 days. Parents continue to feed and care for fledglings for several weeks after they leave the nest.
Conservation and Status
Global Conservation Status
While currently listed as Least Concern, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers face threats from habitat loss due to deforestation and climate change.
Conservation efforts focus on protecting mature deciduous forests and promoting sustainable forestry practices to maintain suitable breeding habitats.
Population Data
Global Population Estimate
14,000,000 mature individuals
Birdwatching Tips
- Look for neat rows of small holes on tree trunks, a telltale sign of sapsucker activity
- Listen for their distinctive 'mewing' call, which sounds cat-like
- In spring, watch for courtship drumming displays on resonant objects
- In eastern North America, check deciduous forests during migration seasons
- The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is most easily confused with the Red-naped Sapsucker (S. nuchalis), but fortunately, their ranges are mostly separate.
Additional Information
Predators
Main predators include hawks, owls, and tree-climbing mammals such as raccoons and squirrels. Nest predators may also include snakes and other birds.
Did You Know?
- Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers create sap wells that benefit many other species, including hummingbirds and insects.
- They are the only migratory woodpeckers in eastern North America.
- Their tongues are shorter than those of other woodpeckers, adapted for lapping sap rather than extracting insects from wood.
FAQs
What attracts Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers?
Birdwatchers can attract Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers by providing suet and sugary foods like grape jelly. Planting their favorite food trees is a great way to keep them coming back year after year.
References
- 1
website: BirdLife International. 2016. Sphyrapicus varius. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016: e.T22680868A92883427.
View source - 2
report, 2002: del Hoyo et al
- 3
website, 2022: Partners in Flight
View source
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