Monday, July 14, 2014

Red-breasted Sapsucker

The Red-brested Sapsucker (scientific name - Sphyrapicus ruber) is a medium sized woodpecker that is found in the forests on the West Coast of North America from Alaska to California. They feed by foraging for insects in trees. They have a red head and breast and a white strip along the side. Photos taken in Chemainus, B.C. in June 2014.



2 comments:

  1. When our family was young and we would visit my husband's parents...if I wondered after a bird's identity my father-in-law always had the same answer..."why it is probably a yellow bellied redheaded sapsucker," he'd say with delight. These are very nice photos of red-breasted sapsuckers. Please let me know if you ever spot the species Dad was so fond of ...

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    1. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is a fairly close relative of the Red-breasted Sapsucker. The Yellow-bellied variety is not found on the West Coast of North America and is mainly found from the midwest to the East Coast, although they do breed as far west as Northern Alberta and sometimes into the Yukon. I won't probably find one locally in B.C., but you never know on my travels. Cheers. Neal

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