Juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)?
This bird landed in this Flowering Dogwood tree and, before I could focus on it, it hopped over to a closer branch and grabbed a berry which it swallowed and hopped back over to where I photographed it. This all happened so quickly that I didn’t get a shot of it with the berry. At first I thought it was a small woodpecker but couldn’t see any color on its head or neck. Its feathers were brown; I couldn't see any distinctly black feathers. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Can anyone confirm or correct my identification?Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
No mistaking this woodpecker. Usually we just hear the rapid rat-tat-tat-tat-tat-tat as the Pileated Woodpeckers dig into a trunk. Occasionally we see them, but not often. This bird landed here. Then..
It hopped down the branch to the leafy tips where it proceeded to eat berries. I got this one shot. You and see its head among the leaves in the middle of the image. It was amusing to watch it feeding. It was much to heavy for the twigs it was on and swayed wildly as it balanced and ate greedily.Click on an image to view a larger image
Identification resources:
- Sibley, DA. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) p. 311. In. National Audobon Society The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A Knopf, New York.
- The Cornell Institute of Ornithology: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
- The Cornell Institute of Ornithology: Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)
Related post:
- Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)
