Species Spotlight June 2017

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

The red-breasted sapsucker is a medium-sized member of the woodpecker family. It has striking colors, known for its bright red head and breast, and a bright white stripe which runs down the side of their body.

This species lives and breeds in the coniferous forests along western Washington’s northern Pacific Coast, and are usually found at middle or lower elevations. They are often found in mature and old-growth forests. Living in a relatively pleasant climate, the red-breasted sapsucker is the least migratory of the Washington sapsuckers, and the only sapsuckers that regularly remain in Washington during the winter. However, if the weather gets too cold, enough for sap to freeze, they may descend into the lowlands or move out to the outer coast to find food.

As their name amusingly suggests, the red-breasted sapsuckers … well, suck sap (their main food staple). They drill miniature holes in the bark of trees, usually in nice, neat rows, and will re-visit the holes again and again to suck up the sap that oozes out from the holes. In addition, they will also dine on fruit and a wide variety of insects that the succulent sap also attracts.

Red-breasted sapsuckers communicate via mewing, high-pitched and squealing calls and through drumming (they drum various surfaces using their bills).

They will usually nest in the cavity of a dead tree or branch, and prefer deciduous trees, but also may nest in firs and other conifers, usually high off the ground. They form monogamous pairs, and both the male and female will work to excavate the nest cavity. While they may often use the same tree year after year, these sapsuckers will not re-use the same nest cavity.

Red-breasted sapsuckers will raise a single group of offspring each year. Both male and female will incubate the eggs, usually between 4-7 in number, for about 12 days. Both will also feed their young a diet consisting of a variety of insects, sap and fruit, until the young leave the nest after about four weeks. The parents will teach their young how to suck sap, and will continue to feed their young for about 10 days after they leave the nest.

The populations of the red-breasted sapsucker populations are currently stable, although numbers could decline due to habitat degradation. It is estimated that there’s a global breeding population of approximately 2 million. These birds were historically shot as orchard pests, but are now protected from such a fate.

Interesting Facts:

Hummingbirds of several species, and some warblers, make use of sapsucker feeding holes and come to rely on them. The Rufous Hummingbird will nest near sap wells and may follow the woodpecker around during the daytime, feeding at the wells the sapsucker keeps flowing.

The oldest recorded Red-breasted Sapsucker was at least 5 years old when it was found after being hit by a car. It lived in British Columbia.

Unlike most woodpeckers, red-breasted sapsuckers forage in healthy trees, and can actually kill a tree if they drill too many sap-holes around its trunk, although this is quite uncommon.

The Red-breasted sapsucker’s tongue is covered with stiff hairs which help aid in the collection of sap from the surface of trees.

Photo by: Angie Vogel