sapsucker

/sap"suk'euhr/, n.

any of several American woodpeckers of the genus Sphyrapicus that drill holes in maple, apple, hemlock, etc., drinking the sap and eating the insects that gather there. Cf. yellow-bellied sapsucker.

[1795-1805, Amer.; SAP¹ + SUCKER]

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Either of two species of North American woodpeckers that drill holes in neat, close rows to obtain sap and insects.

The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), about 8 in. (20 cm) long, is one of the few migratory species of woodpecker, breeding in northern regions and southern mountains and migrating as far as the West Indies and Central America. Both sexes have bold head markings. Williamson's sapsucker (S. thyroideus), which lives in high pine forests of the western U.S., is uncommon throughout its range.

Yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

Kenneth W. Fink from Root Resources

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▪ bird

 either of two species of North American woodpeckers of the family Picidae (order Piciformes), noted for drilling holes in neat close rows through the bark of trees to obtain sap and insects. They also catch insects in midair.

      The yellow-bellied sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius), about 20 cm (8 inches) long, breeds in northern regions (south in mountains) and migrates as far as the West Indies and Central America; red-breasted and red-naped races occur west of the Rocky Mountains. Both sexes of varius have bold head-markings. The other species, Williamson's sapsucker (S. thyroideus), is found in high pine forests of the western United States but is uncommon throughout its range.

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