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Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruberOrder: PICIFORMESFamily: Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Red-breasted Sapsucker Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Dagger, All-purpose
  • Eye Color: Dark brown.
  • Head Pattern: Plain, Striped, Unique pattern
  • Crown Color: Red
  • Forehead Color: Red
  • Nape Color: Red
  • Throat Color: Red
  • Cere color: No Data
Red-breasted Sapsucker Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 20-23 cm (8-9 in)
  • Weight: 48 g (1.7 oz)
  • Size: Medium (9 - 16 in)
  • Color Primary: Red, Black
  • Underparts: Black and white with pale yellow wash.
  • Upperparts: Black and white barring.
  • Back Pattern: Spotted or speckled
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Red-breasted Sapsucker Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Alternates several rapid shallow wing beats with short glides.
  • Wingspan Range: 41-46 cm (16-18 in)
  • Wing Shape: Rounded-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Pointed Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Barred
  • Upper Tail: Black with barred white central feathers.
  • Under Tail: Black
  • Leg Color: Gray
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Family
Species Sphyrapicus ruber
Length8 - 9 Inches
Wingspan17 Inches

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Red-breasted Sapsucker: Medium-sized woodpecker with black-and-white barred upperparts, pale yellow belly, and white rump. The head, nape, throat, and breast are bright red; moustache stripe is white. The wings are checkered black-and-white with large white patches. Black bill, gray legs and feet.

● Song: "whee-ur", "mew"

● Foraging & Feeding: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Feeds on sap, bark cambium, insects, especially ants, and some fruits. Drills sap wells in a variety of tree species.

● Breeding & nesting: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Four to five white eggs are laid in a cavity drilled in a tree. Incubation ranges from 12 to 13 days and is carried out by the female.

● Similar species: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Other woodpeckers in range lack large white patches on wings.

Flight Pattern

Alternates several rapid shallow wing beats with short glides.
Red-breasted Sapsucker Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Red-breasted Sapsucker: Breeds from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south to coastal California. Spends winters in most of its breeding range except interior British Columbia. Preferred habitats include woodlands, forest edges, and groves of aspen and alder.
BreedingMonogamous, Loose colonies, Small colonies
Population
MigrationMigratory
Weight1.7 Ounces