Red-naped Sapsucker

Overview

The red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) is a medium-sized North American woodpecker formerly classified as a subspecies of the yellow-bellied sapsucker but now recognised as a distinct species due to significant genetic differences. It is listed on the IUCN Red List as a species of Least Concern.

Identification

• Medium-sized bird measuring 19–21 cm in length with a weight range of 32–66 g.
• Black head featuring a red forehead, white stripes, and a distinct red spot on the nape, with a large white wing patch on black wings.
• Yellow breast and upper belly contrasting with a white lower belly and rump.
• Adult males possess a red throat patch, whereas females have a red lower throat and white upper throat.

Habitat

Breeding habitats consist of mixed forests in the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin areas of North America, where the species nests in cavities within dead or decaying trees, particularly trembling aspen. These birds migrate south and vacate higher elevation areas seasonally.

Diet

True to its name, the red-naped sapsucker drills holes in trees to feed on sap and the insects attracted to it, while also catching insects in flight and consuming seeds and berries.

Did you know?

The genus name Sphyrapicus is derived from the Greek words for 'hammer' and 'woodpecker', while the specific name nuchalis is a modern Latin term meaning 'of the nape', referencing the red patch on the back of the bird's head.