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Red-naped Sapsucker Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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Oregon, April 10, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Oregon, April 11, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Oregon, April 15, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Oregon, April 15, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Drum
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Oregon, April 11, 1992Recorded by Dave Herr / Macaulay Library
Juvenile calls
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Utah, July 14, 1990Recorded by Kevin J. Colver / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

The most frequently heard call is a harsh waa given to alert their mate of danger or when they are disturbed. This whining scream sounds like a person pretending to cry like a small child, waa...waa...waa. They call while perched or in flight, and call more frequently in the breeding season than at other times of year. Males and females also give a dry raspy chatter in flight to each other, especially early in the breeding season. This chatter can go on for as little as a few seconds to more than 10 seconds. They give a harsh and short squeal to attract a mate.

Other Sounds

Sapsuckers have a distinctive slow and irregular drumming pattern. The drum starts off with a few quick knocks, followed by a pause and a series of irregularly spaced knocks. Both sexes drum, although males drum more often than females. Drumming serves to attract mates and to announce a birds presence within a territory.

Compare with Similar Species

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Red-breasted Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Williamson's Sapsucker

Williamson's Sapsucker

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Species in This Family

Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family: Picidae)

Williamson's Sapsucker

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Red-naped Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Lewis's Woodpecker

Red-headed Woodpecker

Acorn Woodpecker

Gila Woodpecker

Golden-fronted Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

American Three-toed Woodpecker

Black-backed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Ladder-backed Woodpecker

Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

White-headed Woodpecker

Arizona Woodpecker

Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Browse Species in This Family

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