Williamson's Sapsucker Identification

The Four Keys to ID

• Size & Shape

  A medium-sized woodpecker with compact body, stout, medium-sized bill, and fairly long wings.

  Relative Size

  Notably larger than a Downy Woodpecker, smaller than a Northern Flicker.

  robin-sized

  Measurements

  • Both Sexes
• Color Pattern

  Adult males are velvety black above, with a white wing patch and a yellow belly. They have a sharp face pattern with a white line behind the eye, a white stripe from the base of the bill to the lower cheek, and a red throat. The adult female is banded overall in black and white, with brownish head, whitish rump, black breast patch, yellowish patch in upper belly, and white bands in its black tail. Juveniles resemble duller versions of the adults.

• Behavior

  Forages by drilling small, shallow holes (sapwells) into coniferous trees, then eating the sap exuded as well as the inner bark (phloem) and any insects that become trapped. During the breeding season, eats ants and other insects, gleaned mostly from bark.

• Habitat

  Nests in open coniferous and mixed woodlands in mountains of western North America, especially mature forests with pine, larch, fir, Douglas-fir, and aspen. Winters in similar habitats at lower elevations but also in oak scrub, pinyon pine-juniper, and riparian forests.