Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber Order: PICIFORMES Family: Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Breeding Location:

Forest edge



Breeding Type:

Monogamous, Loose colonies, Small colonies



Breeding Population:



Egg Color:

White



Number of Eggs:

4 - 5



Incubation Days:

12 - 13



Egg Incubator:

Female



Nest Material:

Usually no materials except a few bark chips.



Migration:

Migratory



Splitbar

Recommended Products:

Overview

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black-and-white barred upperparts, pale yellow belly, and white rump. The head, nape, throat, and breast are bright red; moustache stripe is white. The wings are checkered black-and-white with large white patches. Black bill, gray legs and feet.

Range and Habitat

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Breeds from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south to coastal California. Spends winters in most of its breeding range except interior British Columbia. Preferred habitats include woodlands, forest edges, and groves of aspen and alder.

Breeding and Nesting

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Four to five white eggs are laid in a cavity drilled in a tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

Foraging and Feeding

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Feeds on sap, bark cambium, insects, especially ants, and some fruits. Drills sap wells in a variety of tree species.

Readily Eats

Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit

Vocalization

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Call is a soft, slurred "whee-ur" or "mew."

Similar Species

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Other woodpeckers in range lack large white patches on wings.

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Family Woodpecker (Picidae)_blue
Species Sphyrapicus ruber
Length8 - 9 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black-and-white barred upperparts, pale yellow belly, and white rump. The head, nape, throat, and breast are bright red; moustache stripe is white. The wings are checkered black-and-white with large white patches. Black bill, gray legs and feet.

● Song: "whee-ur", "mew"

● Foraging & Feeding: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Feeds on sap, bark cambium, insects, especially ants, and some fruits. Drills sap wells in a variety of tree species.

● Breeding & nesting: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Four to five white eggs are laid in a cavity drilled in a tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Other woodpeckers in range lack large white patches on wings.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid shallow wing beats with short glides.
Red-breasted Sapsucker Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Breeds from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south to coastal California. Spends winters in most of its breeding range except interior British Columbia. Preferred habitats include woodlands, forest edges, and groves of aspen and alder.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies, Small colonies
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.7 Ounces