Head to head
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker vs Downy Woodpecker
The yellow-bellied sapsucker and downy woodpecker are both common North American woodpeckers, but they differ sharply in diet, size, and migratory habits.
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Downy Woodpecker | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Sphyrapicus varius | Dryobates pubescens |
| Relative size | Medium | Smallest woodpecker in North America |
| Diet | Omnivore, sap and insects | Insectivore |
| Migration | Migratory | Largely resident |
| Feeding technique | Drills rows of sap wells | Drills for insects in bark |
| Conservation status | Least Concern | Least Concern |
| Population trend | Stable | Stable |
| Habitat | Forest | Forest |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker vs Downy Woodpecker: common questions
Which species migrates, the yellow-bellied sapsucker or the downy woodpecker?
The yellow-bellied sapsucker is one of the few genuinely migratory woodpeckers, travelling between northern breeding grounds and southern wintering areas, while the downy woodpecker remains largely resident year-round.
How is the yellow-bellied sapsucker's diet different from the downy woodpecker's?
The yellow-bellied sapsucker feeds heavily on tree sap and the insects it attracts, drilled from neat rows of small holes, while the downy woodpecker relies mainly on insects extracted directly from bark and dead wood.
Which is smaller, the yellow-bellied sapsucker or the downy woodpecker?
The downy woodpecker is smaller, holding the title of smallest woodpecker in North America, while the yellow-bellied sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker by comparison.