| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Sphyrapicus varius ( Linnaeus, 1766) |
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, is a medium-sized woodpecker.
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.
Their breeding habitat is forested areas scross Canada, eastern Alaska and the northeastern United States. 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.
These birds migrate to the southeastern United States and Central AmericaCentral America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. Some geographers classify Central America as a large isthmus, and in this geographic sense it sometimes in, leaving their summer range. This species has occurred as a very rare vagrant to IrelandThe island of Ireland ire in Irish, Airlann in Ulster Scots) is the third-largest island in Europe. It lies on the west side of the Irish Sea, close to the island of Great Britain. It is composed of the Republic of Ireland in the south and Northern Irelan and Great BritainGreat Britain (often abbreviated as Britain is an island lying off the western coast of Europe, comprising the main territory of the United Kingdom. Great Britain is also used as a political term describing the combination of England, Scotland, and Wales,.
Like other sapsuckerSapsuckers Yellow-bellied Sapsucker : Animalia : Chordata : Aves : Piciformes : Picidae Sphyrapicus Sphyrapicus varius Sphyrapicus nuchalis Sphyrapicus ruber The Sapsuckers form the genus Sphyrapicus within the woodpecker family Picidae. Species currentlys, 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.