Common Names
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (en)
- Chupasavia norteño (es)
- Pic maculé (fr)
- Gelbbauch-Saftlecker (de)
Taxonomy
- Piciformes
- Picidae
- Sphyrapicus varius
This bird is a mid-sized woodpecker, breeding in Canada. It eats mostly arthropods, tree saps, fruits and nuts. A common species that, different to other woodpeckers in the area, migrates South in winter.
The only time I spotted this bird happened in Park Mont-Royal, early spring.
Male and female have a red patch on the forehead. Male have additionally a red throat. The species is similar in appearance to the Hairy Woodpecker but lacks the red patch on the back of its head.
Surprise catch. Usually not very successful in spotting them, this one got close enough for a photo.
Park Mont-Royal - 2014-04-12
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS; 4.3-215mm; Focal Length 179mm; Exposure 1/1000; Aperture f6.5; Iso 400;
For high quality, free available photos visit our profile on Unsplash.