8.5 inches long. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker with yellowish tinged underparts and a black bib on the upper breast. There is a red forehead and crown and a black stripe along the sides of the head bordered by two white stripes that join at the neck. There is a large white wingpatch. The back is black with faint white bars. The adult male shows a red throat and the female a white throat. Immature birds have a brown head and pale chest barred heavily with brown.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is very uncommon during the winter in the Forest.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker creates shallow holes (sap wells) in the bark of trees and feeds on sap that flows into them. Many animals make use of sapsucker sap wells to supplement their own food intake with sap itself or with insects attracted to the sap. Although normally silent the call is a mewing sound “neeeah”.
Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Phil Swanson.