Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius
 (L 8.5" WS 16" WT 1.8 oz)
Thatcher Forest Preserve
River Forest
10Apr10
As named, they drill holes
in trees to eat sap...as well
as insects and berries.
The Oldsquaw is a furtive
Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker that
displays a red throat and tries to
suck the life out of trees.
        (Gene Williamson)
Males have a
red throat.
Columbus Park
Chicago
13Apr2011
Morton Arboretum
Lisle
01Apr2010
© BirdNote,
Bob Sundstrom
© Gregory
Budney
Macaulay
Library
Sphyrapicus in Greek means
hummer woodpecker; varius in
Latin means
variegated, diverse.
© Audubon
Society
drumming
female