Red-breasted Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus ruber

The Red-breasted Sapsucker is a medium-sized woodpecker found in western North America. It has distinctive red plumage on its head and throat, with a black and white barred back and wings. This species is known for its unique feeding behavior, creating sap wells in trees and feeding on the sap as well as insects attracted to it. They are often found in coniferous and mixed forests, where they use their specialized bill to drill neat rows of holes in tree bark. Red-breasted Sapsuckers are known for their drumming and mewing calls during the breeding season. They are important in forest ecosystems, as their sap wells provide a food source for other birds and insects.

Habitat: Coniferous and mixed forests