April Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers
April 6, 2011
Article in: Birding
Every April a group of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers visits our backyard in northern Illinois. They never stay long but they always make use of the various large, old trees in the city yard.
Most used is the aging birch tree. This tree gets more and more battered each year, depositing branches on the ground, but still attracts the sap-seeking sapsuckers.
We counted three different sapsuckers but there could have been more.
Learn more about Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Phriday Photo – Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
April 17, 2009
Article in: Photography
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers are back in full force!!
31 Cool Bird Facts #9 – Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
October 9, 2008
Article in: Birding
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers [Sphyrapicus varius] visit our yard twice a year like clockwork, once in the spring and once in the fall. They are always a treat to watch, and always frequent our birch tree. Their foraging technique is what gives them their interesting name.
The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker makes two kinds of holes in trees to harvest sap. Round holes extend deep in the tree and are not enlarged. The sapsucker inserts its bill into the hole to probe for sap. Rectangular holes are shallower, and must be maintained continually for the sap to flow. The sapsucker licks the sap from these holes, and eats the cambium of the tree too. New holes usually are made in a line with old holes, or in a new line above the old. – Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s All About Birds
CNP Update: Sparrows, Sapsuckers, and More
April 10, 2008
Article in: Birding
Spring finally hit this past week with warm temperatures and lots of bird song. Unfortunately, the warmth comes and goes..there is even a possibility for snow this weekend. But nonetheless, spring has come. Each day seems to bring in new birds to our Callaway Nature Preserve, so we plan to update each Thursday.
Fox Sparrows have arrived! They have such a beautiful sound. Our high count is three at one time.
Fox Sparrow
The Dark-eyed Juncos are still flitting around and one Song Sparrow has joined the Fox Sparrows. They are finding a lot of food, but there is quite a bit of standing water due to heavy rain on Tuesday. More rain is scheduled to dump 1-3 inches today (Thursday). Spring has soggily sprung!
The other big highlight this week was a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that drilled a few sap holes in our birch tree. In this same tree a Downy Woodpecker pair has been working on a hole.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
We’ve also had several Northern Cardinals, American Robins, and a Common Grackle (which aren’t that common in our yard, but are in the area). The American Goldfinches are molting into their fine gold plumage. Each passing day brings the excitement for new birds and a larger mix of wonderful avian music.
Okay, Crocuses (or Croci) aren’t native…but they’re still pretty and are the only flowers blooming so far.
Video Wednesday – Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
April 9, 2008
Article in: Videos
Video starring a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
This video was shot in our backyard nature preserve. It is over 2 minutes long but shows a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker drilling holes and drinking out of them in our birch tree. Enjoy and please share with others!
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker from birdfreak on Vimeo.
Background noise includes: Dark-eyed Junco, House Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Brown-headed Cowbird, American Goldfinch, and our old 13-yr old Golden-retriever (clomping around the house)
