Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/
Sphyrapicus varius. A bird with a cartoon name and a bad reputation. I was fortunate over the last week or so to see a lot of activity around a particular wild birch tree in the yard (one of many). I have a bench nearly underneath the tree, where I stow my gear (gloves, camera, jacket, water bottle, coffee etc etc) while I'm working at that end of the acreage, and sit for short breaks now and then.The woodpeckers (I've seen at least two) have been busy working that tree, and at least one of them is not much concerned if I am nearby, so I've been able to get lots of photos, and the occasion to do a little observing and a little research later inside.
While they eat many insects, as well as fruit and berries, Sapsuckers (the Yellow-bellied is the Eastern form of a complex that includes several closely related forms, the others are farther west and/or south) are most famous (and named) for the holes they drill in tree trunks to access flowing sap. Their bristly tongue allows them to lap up the sap, as well as any insects it traps. Depending on the intensity of their harvesting, and the tree species, trees may take this in stride or they may be damaged or killed. Damage can be caused by holes closely spaced that girdle a branch, top of tree or trunk (cutting off the circulation/flow of sap to that part) and/or by allowing insects, fungi etc to enter the tree through the holes.
In a forest setting, this damage is unlikely to be significant, but in sub/urban yards, with far fewer trees, it can be a problem.
Here in the boreal mixed-woods, with plenty of woodland around, the colourful birds, with their distinctive cries, for me are part of the character of the woodland. In this area, their distinctive traces- orderly rows of holes in tree trunks- are seen mostly if not solely on birches. Birches here (some day I'll make a post about the unclear situation regarding the species), at least individual trunks, are not terribly long lived , tending to have a lot of fungi and die from the top down, though nearly always sending new suckers from the base before the main trunks have died. I wonder, now, what role these woodpeckers play in the demise of the birch trunks?
Nonetheless, they doubtless play an important role in the mixed woods ecosystem eating their share of insects, including those that might cause damage to the trees themselves. I've also realised recently, that they provide an additional food source to other forest dwellers, whether it is the flowing sap itself, or insects drawn to/trapped in it (likely the birds/animals make little distinction). Watching the activity in the tree from my bench, I realised there were more visitors than just the woodpeckers: I saw a squirrel, a Black-capped Chickadee and Red-breasted Nuthatch at various times.All were moving/acting in atypical ways that let me know they were either eating the sap, or pulling insects out of it, or both.
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| Squirrel and woodpecker sharing a tree, and the fruits of the woodpecker's labours.. |
Red Squirrel/ Tamiasciurius hudsonicus; feeding on sap/trapped insects
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Red-breasted Nuthatch/Sitta canadensis feeding on sap/trapped insects
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| Black-capped Chickadee/ Poecile atricapillus feeding on sap/trapped insects |
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Black-capped Chickadee/ Poecile atricapillus feeding on sap/trapped insects
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More views of the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius. Notice the amount of yellow on the underside/shoulder seems to vary- some of this may be lighting, but I did see at least two individuals, so they must vary. Females should have a white throat, and I did not see any like that, so must be two males..
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius |
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius |
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius |
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius |
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| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker/ Sphyrapicus varius |
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