Note small red throat patch and yellow belly (not visible in photo). He even cited the Downy Woodpecker’s occa-sional habit of drilling and feeding at sap … Williamson's Sapsucker: Call is a soft, nasal "churrr" that descends in pitch. Though every Williamson’s sapsucker is dressed in black and white feathers, males of this species flaunt yellow bellies, distinguishing them from their female friends. Although its name sounds like a cartoonist's invention, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker does exist. The Williamson\'s Sapsucker is found in mountainous conifer forests and also feeds on ants and fruit in different Although they are typically described as quiet and inconspicuous, they make loud, cat-like mewing calls, which may reveal their presence. Though every Williamson’s sapsucker is dressed in black and white feathers, males of this species flaunt yellow bellies, distinguishing them from their female friends. Excavates holes in trees, often those with a fungal infection, which makes excavating the hole easier. Williamson's Sapsuckers are the largest species of sapsucker and are partially migratory. Females have fine horizontal black-and-white barring on the back and a brown head. Forages by drilling small, shallow holes (sapwells) into coniferous trees, then eating the sap exuded as well as the inner bark (phloem) and any insects that become trapped. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Williamson's Sapsuckers also chip bark from trees to get to insects boring beneath. A medium-sized woodpecker with compact body, stout, medium-sized bill, and fairly long wings. Search. Subalpine fir and western larch may also be important components of good habitat for these birds. Although locally common, Williamson’s Sapsuckers are scarce in large areas of seemingly suitable habitat. Get Instant ID help for 650+ North American birds. Listen to Williamson's sapsucker on bird-sounds.net - a comprehensive collection of North American bird songs and bird calls. Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive. The lower belly is yellow. The male Williamson's Sapsucker is a silken black woodpecker with a cherry-red throat, a rich yellow belly, and sharp white wing patches. Suet, Sunflower Seed, Nuts, Sugar Water, Fruit. The oozing sap as well as the insects attracted to it serve as a major source of food at some times of the year. Home. Their flight is deeply undulating. Notably larger than a Downy Woodpecker, smaller than a Northern Flicker. Williamson's Sapsucker: Feeds on sap, bark cambium, ants, wood-boring larvae, and moths of spruce budworms; drills holes in trees, returning to feed on seeping sap. Juvenile males look like adult males but lack the red throat. American three-toed woodpecker. The male Williamson's Sapsucker is a silken black woodpecker with a cherry-red throat, a rich yellow belly, and sharp white wing patches. May be found nesting in the same aspen groves as Red-naped or Red-breasted sapsuckers, but also occurs in pure coniferous forest. Males and females feed the nestlings and carry away fecal matter from the nest. They have a sharp face pattern with a white line behind the eye, a white stripe from the base of the bill to the lower cheek, and a red throat. Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family:Picidae). A high, nasal chyaah that sounds like a raptor is the most often heard call. Their drum tapers off in volume and speed, making it unlike that of Red-breasted Sapsuckers’ more erratic rhythm. Yellow-bellied sapsucker (drumming) call, drumming, female, male. Breeding habitat is open forested areas with conifers, mainly ponderosa pine, douglas-fir, and grand fir. Partially migratory, they breed in western North America from northern Mexico as far north as British Columbia. Preferred habitat for the Williamson’s Sapsucker is a dry, open coniferous forest in the mountains, with aspens or larch often chosen for nesting trees. Les W. Gyug, R. C. Dobbs, Thomas E. Martin, and Courtney J. Conway Version: 1.0 — Published March 4, 2020 Text last updated October 1, 2012 This medium-sized bird is most likely to be found in wooded areas, especially coniferous woodlands, sipping on sap. PEHart. Winters in similar habitats at lower elevations but also in oak scrub, pinyon pine-juniper, and riparian forests. There are two recognized subspecies, S. t. thyroideus and S. t. nataliae, both of which occur in Canada. Williamson's sapsucker. These chosen trees may have dead heartwood but always have a solid outer layer and the appearance of a healthy tree. Other woodpeckers, sapsuckers and flickers. The adult female is banded overall in black and white, with brownish head, whitish rump, black breast patch, yellowish patch in upper belly, and white bands in its black tail. Females also have a black breast patch (not visible in the photo). Quiet and inconspicuous at most times, although its staccato drumming and nasal mewing calls may be noticeable in spring. Large sap wells are excavated in shallow but neat rows on the bark of a tree, and they are usually the first evidence of this sapsucker\s presence. dfaulder. See more images of this species in Macaulay Library. Juvenile females look like adult females but are paler overall and lack the black breast patch. Unique among woodpeckers, the male (mostly black and white) and the female (mostly black and brown) exhibit strikingly different plumage. Woodpeckers(Order: Piciformes, Family:Picidae). drumming. Black above with vertical white wing patches, 2 white stripes on the face, and a red throat patch. During the breeding season, eats ants and other insects, gleaned mostly from bark. Vocalization. Large sapsucker. Logging is the chief cause of this sapsucker’s precarious situation in Canada. Adult males are velvety black above, with a white wing patch and a yellow belly. Albatrosses (4) American sparrows, towhees and juncos (40) Auks, murres and puffins (9) … Williamson's Sapsucker may be declining in some parts of its range due to habitat loss, particularly the loss of large snags (dead trees) required for nesting, especially on private lands. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Readily Eats. Williamson's Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus drums #1 mews & drum mews, nestling calls, & churr squealing calls interaction calls interaction calls and flight call Juveniles resemble duller versions of the adults. Other woodpeckers, sapsuckers … Similar Species 0:00 / Williamson's sapsucker (drumming) call, drumming. Large sapsucker. This medium-sized bird is most likely to be found in wooded areas, especially coniferous woodlands, sipping on sap. ... Williamson's sapsucker. Favorites. Preferred habitat for the Williamson’s Sapsucker is a dry, open coniferous forest in the mountains, with aspens or larch often chosen for nesting trees. The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation.