Yellowbellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

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Yellow-bellied SapsuckerSphyrapicus varius

• The birds of symmetry.

Identification
Reproduction
Seasonal Distribution
Seasonal Abundance
References
1.
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Identification
A woodpecker of medium size, the male
yellow-bellied sapsucker is distinguished by
white barring on the wings, a usually white nape,
red throat with complete black border, and some
yellow/gold on the breast. Females have a white
throat. They can weigh about 50g and have a
wingspan of about 16in. Average length of this
medium-sized bird is 8.5in.3 The yellow-bellied
sapsucker has a distinctive drum which has a
varying rate and usually slows down toward the
end.4 A sample of this birds song and drum can
be heard here.5
2.
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3
Reproduction

• Yellow-bellied sapsuckers live and breed in
• trees of the forest. They often have a nest
• hole in a tree. Breeding begins in their
• gourd-shaped nest cavities around late
• April and the beginning of May. Five to six
• eggs are usually laid. They are smooth and
• can be slightly glossy, being 22 x 17 mm.
• These eggs are incubated for 12-13 days
• and the nestlings are altricial. Both parents
• share in the care-taking responsibilities by
• bringing them insects to eat. Nestlings
• tend to leave the nest between 25-29 days
• after hatching, but are dependent on
• the parents for another ten days.7

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Seasonal Distribution

• The yellow-bellied sapsucker breeds in the
  forests of the northeastern,
• northern mid-west United States and Canada.
  However, a separated
• population remains in the higher elevations of
  the Appalachian
• mountains of Virginia and Tennessee.6

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Seasonal Abundance Blount Co, TN

• This season, there have been few sightings of the
  yellow-
• bellied sapsucker, but this is consistent with
  their migratory
• behavior of most individuals breeding in the
  north.

Figure 1. Seasonal abundance of yellow-bellied
sapsuckers in Blount Co, TN calculated as birds
per hour.
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References

• http//www.birds.cornell.edu/bow/yebsap/
• http//physics.clarku.edu/jfiala/files/Birds/Yell
  owBS.htm
• Sibley, D.A., Elphick, C., and J.B. Dunning Jr.
  2001. The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and
  Behavior. Alfred A. Knopf New York, NY.
• Podulka, S., Rohrbaugh Jr., R.W., and R. Bonney.
  2004. Handbook of Bird Biology. Cornell Lab of
  Ornithology Ithaca, NY.
• http//fsc.fernbank.edu/birding/birdID/Sapsucker.h
  tm
• http//www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/id/framlst/i4020id.ht
  ml
• Baicich, P.J. and C.J.O. Harrison. 1997. A Guide
  to the Nests, Eggs, and Nestlings of North
  American Birds. Academic Press New York, NY.
• http//www.ohiobirds.org/obba2/images/yellow-belli
  ed-sapsucker.jpg

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