Birds
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius · also called sapsucker
Drilling a neat row of small holes into a tree trunk, a yellow-bellied sapsucker returns again and again to drink the sap that wells up, a feeding station that quickly attracts insects, other birds, and even small mammals looking for an easy meal.
Overview
The yellow-bellied sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, is a sap-feeding woodpecker native to forest habitat across a broad range spanning North America. Its distinctive rows of drilled sap wells shared with other wildlife, status as one of the few genuinely migratory woodpeckers, and pale yellow belly wash make it one of the most ecologically influential and behaviourally distinctive woodpeckers found anywhere in North America.
A feeding station for the whole forest
The yellow-bellied sapsucker’s neat rows of drilled holes do more than feed the bird itself, becoming a shared resource that draws in insects, other birds, and small mammals looking to tap into the same flow of sap.
Status
Least Concern, remaining widespread and stable across suitable forest habitat throughout North America.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: common questions
How does the yellow-bellied sapsucker feed on sap?
This species drills neat, orderly rows of small holes into tree bark, then returns repeatedly to drink the sap that wells up and to catch insects drawn to the same sugary wells.
Do other animals benefit from the yellow-bellied sapsucker's sap wells?
Yes, this species' sap wells are frequently used by other birds, insects, and even small mammals, making the yellow-bellied sapsucker an important food source provider within its forest ecosystem.
Does the yellow-bellied sapsucker migrate?
Yes, this species is one of the few truly migratory woodpeckers, travelling between breeding grounds in the north and wintering areas farther south each year, unlike most woodpeckers, which remain resident year-round.
How did the yellow-bellied sapsucker get its name?
This species has a pale yellow wash across the belly, a subtle feature that gives the species its common name alongside its distinctive sap-feeding behaviour.