General

Williamson's Sapsucker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black back and white rump. Throat is bright red, breast is black, belly is yellow, and flanks are barred black-and-white. Black head has white facial stripes. Wings are black with large white patches. Female is pale brown and black-barred overall with brown head, darker brown cap and throat, black breast and yellow belly.

Range and Habitat

Williamson's Sapsucker: Breeds from southern British Columbia south to southern California, central Arizona, and central New Mexico. Spends winters in the southern part of breeding range and in the southwest. Ponderosa pine forests, open coniferous forests, and subalpine forests in the southwest are preferred habitats.

Listen to Call

Voice Text

"churrr"

Interesting Facts

 The Williamson's Sapsucker was first described in 1852 by John Cassin, an American ornithologist.

 Originally, the female was considered to be a different species and named the Black-breasted Woodpecker by Cassin.

 The species took its common name from Lieutenant Robert Stockton Williamson, who was the leader of a surveying expedition which collected the first male.

 A group of sapsuckers are collectively known as a "slurp" of sapsuckers.

Author

Gary Owen Dick

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