Distribution Breeding: From eastern Alaska east to central Newfoundland, south to northeastern British Columbia, eastern North Dakota, New Hampshire, and locally in the Appalachians south to eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina. Winter: Winters from Missouri, the Ohio Valley, and New Jersey south through the southeastern states to central Panama. Breeding habitat Breeding habitat consists of open deciduous and mixed forests, including northern hardwoods, high-elevation spruce-fir, aspen groves, and some oak-hickory forests. Occurs in mature as well as secondary forests. Requires trees with soft wood or snags for excavating nesting cavities.

Conservation status

The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is of moderate conservation importance, because of its low overall density and dependence on snags and appropriate trees for nesting. As a primary cavity nester throughout the northern hardwood and Appalachian forests, this species is important for supplying nest sites for many other forest species. Overall populations appear to be stable or increasing, but the distinctive birds of the high Appalachians are of local conservation concern. Understanding this species’ sensitivity to forest fragmentation and various silvicultural practices will be important for conserving future populations.

Description

Male: A medium-sized woodpecker with red forehead and crown, black hindcrown and neck, ladder-like black and white bands down the back, dark wing showing a broad white stripe. Chin and throat red, black patch on upper breast, lower breast and belly usually appear whitish but is light yellow in some conditions.

Female: Similar to male, but throat is white and yellow underparts are paler; some birds show an all-black crown.

Juvenile: Largely brownish plumage with some white barring on back, wings, and tail. White wing stripe visible, no red on head or throat.

Vocalizations

Drum: Drums on trees to establish and advertise territory; drum is a burst of about five rapid taps followed by gradual slowing with occasional double taps, territorial/courtship hammering has a Morse-code quality and rhythm.

Calls: Contact call is a nasal, cat-like meow, depicted as a squealing or mewing neeah; on territory an emphatic QUEEah. Close contact call is a series of hoarse and uneven wik-a-wik-a notes. In flight gives a nasal geert.

Foraging strategy

Drills rows of holes through the outer bark and consumes cambium and tree sap, creating a sapwell. The holes they drill are lined up horizontally, each one pointed slightly downward so it collects sap. Subsequently eats a variety of insects attracted to the sapwells, also flycatches for flying insects.

They will return to the same trees over and over again and will aggressively defend their food source from other birds like the Ruby-throated Hummingbird or small mammals attracted to the sap; ants and other insects attracted to the sap are eaten. Fruits, mast, and sumac seeds are included in the diet. They can be attracted to feeders with peanut butter, suet, and occasionally hummingbird feeders.

Behavior and displays

• When a bird arrives to take over incubation it alights below the nest hole giving a yew-ick, yew-ick call. Subsequently the mate will appear at the entrance, interchange a few short vocalizations with its mate and fly off before the other bird enters the hole.

Courtship

• Both sexes perform drumming duets to proclaim their territory and to attract a mate.

• Perform fluttering courtship flights; while perching, they raise their crests and bills to expose their throat, then bow.

• Ritual tapping near the nest entrance is performed.

• Perform crest raising and bill raising as well as flicking and drooping their wings when antagonized.

Nesting

Nest Site: Excavates cavities in snags or in living trees with rotten heartwood, including aspen, pine, birch, elm, butternut, cottonwood, alder, willow, beech, maple, and fir. May use the same nest tree for several years, but excavates a new cavity each year.

Height: Usually between 9–45 feet (3–5 meters) high, but ranges between 6–60 feet (2–18 metera).

Nest: Both sexes excavate a gourd shaped cavity leaving it lined with wood chips.

Eggs: 3–7 (usually 5–6) white eggs.

Incubation period: 12–13 days, incubated by both sexes, with the male taking over these duties during the night.

Nestling period: Young are fed sap, fruit, insects, and regurgitated material almost constantly: both parents must return with food every 5–10 minutes. Nestlings climb to upper nest for feeding by 18 days, to entrance by 20 days.

Fledgling period: Young leave nest between days 25–29. Upon fledging, they are dependent upon their parents for only a few weeks, and are taught the art of sapsucking.

Broods: Single brooded.

Cowbird Parasitism: Not known to occur.