Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | ||||||||||||||
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| Image:Sphyrapicus variusPCSL11319B.jpg Male
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| Sphyrapicus varius (Linnaeus, 1766) |
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, is a medium-sized woodpecker.
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[edit] Habitat
Their breeding habitat is forested areas across Canada, eastern Alaska and the northeastern United States. They prefer young, mainly deciduous forests. There is also a disjunct population found in high elevations of the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. They nest in a large cavity excavated in a deciduous tree, often choosing one weakened by disease; the same site may be used for several years. Usually, these birds will mate with the same partner from year to year, as long as both birds survive. They sometimes hybridize with Red-naped Sapsuckers or Red-breasted Sapsuckers where their breeding ranges overlap.
[edit] Description
Adults are black on the back and wings with white bars; they have a black head with white lines down the side and a red forehead and crown, a yellow breast and upper belly, a white lower belly and rump and a black tail with a white central bar. Adult males have a red throat; females have a white throat.
These birds migrate to the southeastern United States, West Indies and Central America, leaving their summer range. This species has occurred as a very rare vagrant to Ireland and Great Britain.
Like other sapsuckers, these birds drill holes in trees and eat the sap and insects drawn to it. They may also pick insects from tree trunks or catch them in flight. They also eat fruit and berries.
They drum and give a cat-like call in spring to declare ownership on territory.
Apparently because the name sounds amusing, yellow-bellied sapsucker is sometimes used as a comic, generic term for an unusual animal. For instance on The Honeymooners Ed Norton sees one in New York City's Central Park but claims that it's unusual because they are not supposed to live within three thousand miles of it.
[edit] Photo Gallery
Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker-l.jpg
Female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - molting juvenile. |
Sphyrapicus varius NAUMANN.jpg
Sphyrapicus varius |
[edit] References
- BirdLife International (2004). Sphyrapicus varius. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
[edit] External links
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Species Account - Cornell Lab of Ornithology
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Information and Photos - South Dakota Birds and Birding
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Melanerpes carolinus - USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter
- Stamps (for Antigua and Barbuda, Barbuda, Dominica, El Salvador, Nevis-(Saint Kitts and Nevis), Turks and Caicos Islands)
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker videos on the Internet Bird Collection
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker photo gallery VIREOda:Gulbuget saftspætte
de:Gelbbauch-Saftlecker es:Sphyrapicus varius fr:Pic maculé ja:シルスイキツツキ is:Safaspæta
Categories: Least Concern species | Sapsuckers | Birds of North America | Birds of Canada | Birds of the United States | Birds of Mexico | Birds of Central America | Birds of El Salvador | Birds of the Caribbean | Birds of the Greater Antilles | Birds of the Turks and Caicos Islands | Land Birds of the Lesser Antilles | Land birds of Antigua and Barbuda | Land birds of Dominica | Land Birds of Saint Kitts and Nevis
