Red-breasted sapsucker

The red-breasted sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber) is a medium-sized woodpecker species inhabiting the forests along the west coast of North America. Its range extends from southeast Alaska and British Columbia south through the Pacific Coast Ranges into northern California. During winter, individuals may migrate south, with the species' winter range reaching as far as Baja California in Mexico.

Description and Identification

Adults are easily identified by their striking red heads and upper chests, which contrast with a white lower belly and rump. Their backs and wings are predominantly black, marked with bars, and they possess a noticeable white wing patch. Variations exist between subspecies, with northern birds (S. r. ruber) often displaying yellow bars on the back and a yellow upper belly, while southern birds (S. r. daggetti) tend to have white bars and a paler belly. Both display white barring on the wings.

Diet and Foraging Behavior

The feeding habits of the red-breasted sapsucker are distinctive. They drill rows of small, neat holes into the bark of living trees, particularly those in their preferred old-growth forest habitat, to access the flowing sap. Their tongues are adapted with stiff hairs to efficiently collect this sugary liquid. These sapsuckers will revisit trees repeatedly, and the sap flow attracts insects, which also become a food source for the woodpeckers and other wildlife, such as hummingbirds.

Reproduction and Nesting

Red-breasted sapsuckers are cavity nesters. They excavate their nest holes in dead, typically deciduous trees, with the process usually beginning in April or May. The species produces one brood per breeding season. The female lays a clutch of four to seven pure white eggs. Both parents participate in feeding the young, which fledge and leave the nest approximately 23 to 28 days after hatching. Importantly, the nest cavity is not reused in subsequent years.

Vocalizations and Migration

These woodpeckers are vocal, producing a variety of sounds including chatter, squeals, and scream-like calls, which are used for territorial defense and mate attraction. They also engage in drumming with their bills on various surfaces. Red-breasted sapsuckers exhibit migratory behavior, with northern populations moving south during the winter months to find milder conditions, often settling in coastal lowlands.