Red-naped Sapsucker Similar Species Comparison
Main SpeciesRed-naped Sapsucker
Male
Small woodpecker with vertical white patch on the folded wing. Males have a red throat, crown, and small nape patch.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryMontana, July 10, 2020Female
Females have a small white chin patch under the bill, while males have a fully red chin and throat. The nape on females can be red or white.
© Tammy McQuade / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 01, 2018Male
Note the red sides of the throat without a black border (Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers have a full black border to throat). Males have a fully red chin and throat; females have a white chin patch.
© Timothy Barksdale / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 03, 1998Not all videos have sound
Juvenile
Juveniles are washed in brown with a brown crown.
© Bobby Dailey / Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 10, 2017Male
Drills rows of parallel circular holes known as sap wells in tree bark to access tree sap.
© Joshua Covill / Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 15, 2016Male
Breeds in mixed forests of willow, aspen, birch, ponderosa pine, juniper, or Douglas-fir.
© Carol Riddell / Macaulay LibraryWashington, June 13, 2014Similar SpeciesRed-breasted Sapsucker
Adult
Red-breasted Sapsuckers have extensive red covering the head and continuing down onto the breast, while Red-naped has black and white patterning on the face.
© Grace Oliver / Macaulay LibraryWashington, April 27, 2017Similar SpeciesYellow-bellied Sapsucker
Male
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers lack the red nape, have a black border around the red throat, and occur primarily in eastern North America, overlapping with Red-naped Sapsuckers only in southwest Alberta.
© Margaret Dunson / Macaulay LibraryMichigan, May 25, 2017Similar SpeciesWilliamson's Sapsucker
Female
Female Williamson's Sapsuckers lack the vertical wing patch that is present on female Red-naped Sapsuckers and have an unmarked tan head.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 24, 2016Similar SpeciesWilliamson's Sapsucker
Male
Male Williamson's Sapsuckers have solid black backs unlike Red-naped Sapsuckers. Red is limited to the throat in Williamson's while Red-naped Sapsuckers have a red crown, nape, and throat.
© Chris Wood / Macaulay LibraryColorado, July 02, 2011Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
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Species in This Family
Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)
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