Fauna Flora Photography

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

This bird is a mid-sized woodpecker, breeding in Canada. It eats mostly arthropods, tree saps, fruits and nuts. A common species that, different to other woodpeckers in the area, migrates South in winter.

Specs

Length19-21cm
Weight34-50g
Wingspan33cm

Common Names

GermanGelbbauch-Saftlecker
EnglishYellow-bellied Sapsucker
FrenchPic maculé
SpanishChupasavia norteño

Taxonomy

OrderPiciformes
FamilyPicidae
SpeciesSphyrapicus varius

How to Identify

Male and female have a red patch on the forehead. Male have additionally a red throat. The species is similar in appearance to the Hairy Woodpecker but lacks the red patch on the back of its head.

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) - Parc Mont-Royal - 2014-04-12

Where and When to Spot

The only time I spotted this bird happened in Park Mont-Royal, early spring.

Last updated on 2023-12-15. Written and regularly updated by Karl-Heinz Müller, Dipl. Natw. ETH, Biology. With 10 years of experience in wildlife photography, Karl-Heinz shares first-hand, on-site collected observations, photos and videos from his frequent visits to parks in the Montreal area.