Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Adult male
- Stocky woodpecker with stout, chisel-like bill
- Boldly marked head with red crown and throat on male
- Black bib and pale yellow wash on breast
- Large white stripe along wing
- © Jim McCree, ME, Orono, May 2012
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Adult female
- Medium-sized, stocky woodpecker
- White stripe along wing
- Black bib
- Female has red crown and pale, not red, throat
- © Raymond Belhumeur/PFW, Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, April 2009
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Adult male
- Small, stocky, boldly-marked woodpecker
- Male shows bright red crown and throat
- Black bib with pale yellow area surrounding it
- Rear crown feathers often raised to form crest
- © Stuart Oikawa, MB, April 2011
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Adult female
- Small woodpecker with stout, pointed bill
- White stirpe along wing
- Red crown and boldly marked face
- Black bib
- © Dwayne Java, ON, Point Pelee, April 2012
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Juvenile
- Small woodpecker with stout, pointed bill
- Crown feathers often raised to form crest
- Bold white stripe on wing
- Juveniles mostly dusky brown below with pale yellow belly and undertail
- © Christopher L. Wood, NY
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Immature
- Small, stocky woodpecker with stout bill
- Bold white stripe along wing
- Immature birds develop red crown in their first fall and winter
- Immatures show buffy/golden spangling on back and breast
- © Kurt Kirchmeier, SK, Green Water Lake, September 2011
Similar Species
Adult male
- Occurs in Western states; little to no overlap
- Red patch on nape (back of neck) as well as crown
- Black outline around red throat patch is not continuous
- Female Red-naped (not shown) has pale chin
- © Lois Manowitz, Tucson, AZ, November 2009
Adult male
- Occurs along West Coast; does not overlap
- Entire head and breast is red
- © Bill Corwin, Washougal, WA, May 2008
Adult male
- Smaller than Yellow-bellied Sapsucker with tiny, stubby bill
- Plain white underparts
- Black crown
- Small white spots on wings instead of large, vertical stripe
- © Kelly Azar, February 2011
Adult female
- Larger than Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- White patch on center of back, spots on wings
- Black crown
- Solid white underparts
- © Rockytopk9, TN, March 2012