Similar Species
Black-backed Woodpecker
Male
Black-backed Woodpeckers have a single white stripe on the face, while Williamson Sapsuckers have two white stripes. They also lack the Williamson's Sapsucker's white wing patch.
© Luke Berg | Macaulay LibraryOntario, January 29, 2017Similar Species
Red-naped Sapsucker
Male
Red-naped Sapsuckers have red caps unlike Black-backed Woodpeckers, which have a black cap.
© Mark Chavez | Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 30, 2017Similar Species
Red-naped Sapsucker
Juvenile
Juvenile Red-naped Sapsuckers have two stripes on their face unlike the clean face of female and juvenile Williamson's Sapsuckers.
© Bobby Dailey | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 10, 2017Similar Species
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Juvenile
Juvenile Red-breasted Sapsuckers have much darker heads than juvenile or female Williamson's Sapsuckers. They also have a white wing patch that female and juvenile Williamson's Sapsuckers lack.
© Jody Wells | Macaulay LibraryBritish Columbia, July 07, 2017Main Species
Williamson's Sapsucker
Male
Large sapsucker. Males are mostly black above with vertical white wing patches and 2 white stripes on the face. Note small red throat patch and yellow belly (not visible in photo).
© Mark Chavez | Macaulay LibraryColorado, June 30, 2017Female
Females have fine horizontal black-and-white barring on the back and a brown head. Females also have a black breast patch (not visible in the photo).
© Andrew Spencer | Macaulay LibraryColorado, May 24, 2016Adult male
Excavates holes in trees, often those with a fungal infection, which makes excavating the hole easier. Males and females feed the nestlings and carry away fecal matter from the nest.
© Timothy Barksdale | Macaulay LibraryMontana, June 01, 2001Juvenile female
Juvenile females look like adult females but are paler overall and lack the black breast patch.
© Brian Sullivan | Macaulay LibraryCalifornia, August 10, 2015Male
Large sapsucker. Black above with vertical white wing patches, 2 white stripes on the face, and a red throat patch. The lower belly is yellow.
© Michael Hilchey | Macaulay LibraryWyoming, May 09, 2019Juvenile male
Juvenile males look like adult males but lack the red throat.
© Matt Davis | Macaulay LibraryNevada, July 27, 2019