Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Bird Facts (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

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker can be found in Woodland habitats.

Garden

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Garden habitats.

Wetland

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Wetland habitats.

Coastal

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Coastal habitats.

Urban

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Urban habitats.

Farmland

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

Grassland

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

Desert

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Desert habitats.

Tundra

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

Rainforest

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

Mountain

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

Savanna

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Antigua and Barbuda Aruba Barbados Bermuda Cayman Islands Colombia Cuba Dominica Dominican Republic El Salvador Guadeloupe Guatemala Haiti Honduras Jamaica Martinique Mexico Montserrat Nicaragua Panama Puerto Rico Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Bahamas Turks and Caicos

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Canada United States of America

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize British Virgin Islands Costa Rica US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Greenland The United Kingdom

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

This feature is in beta. We'd love your feedback to improve it!

Share your thoughts

Bird 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 85

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 60

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 75

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 50

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 70

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

Least Concern ^[1]

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

Global Population Trend

^[2]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

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

Quick Facts

Family:

Picidae

Average Lifespan

5 to 7 years

Max Lifespan

7.8 years ^[3]

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.