Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Sphyrapicus varius (Linnaeus, 1766)

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius, is a woodpecker that breeds across eastern Alaska, north-western Canada, south-eastern Canada and the north-eastern United States, and spends the non-breeding season in the south-eastern United States and Massachusetts. It is placed in the family Picidae and the order Piciformes. A key feature is its habit of using dead trees for drumming, with the sound carrying over distance. It is found in deciduous and mixed coniferous forests when breeding, and in forests, woodland edges, open woodland and other semi-open places outside the breeding season.

Order

Piciformes

Family

Picidae — Woodpeckers

Breeding range

North America: e Alaska and nw Canada to se Canada and ne USA

Nonbreeding range

se USA and MA