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Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Spyrapicus varius Family: Picidae (Woodpecker)  |
Description: Their head has a distinctive red, black and white pattern. The red forehead or fore crown is outlined in black along the crown back and sides. A black curving outline parallels the black moustache line. The male chin and throat is red and for females it is white. Black with white barring on back, flight feathers and tail. White rump and a white patch on the wings. Their upper chest is black with a pale yellow belly. Uses sap as major food source. Sucking sap is not instantaneous, it takes several steps: 1. DRILL - Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers drill a series of small holes around a tree trunk. 2. WAIT: They return a few hours later after the holes have filled with sap. 3. INSERT TONGUE-TIP: They insert their brushy, absorbant tongue-tips into the sap-filled holes. 4. SUCK TONGUE-TIP: Finally, hours after they drilled the hole, they get to suck the sap from the tip of their tongues. These small holes shouldn't cause damage to the tree. Imagine eating your meals with a q-tip! Nesting: Mostly in tree cavities, preferably aspen because of a tinder fungus that softens the wood. They may return to the same tree annually, but both the male and female will dig a new hole. Both the male and female will sit on, or incubate the smooth pure white eggs. The usual brood has 4 - 7 eggs. Range: (April - October) Breeds from central Newfoundland across Canada to northeastern British Columbia. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers winter in Central America and the West Indies.
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